Pace v. City of Hannibal

BLACKMAR, Judge.

The basic question presented by this appeal is whether an increase in the gross amount of funds transferred by the Hannibal Board of Public Works to the general revenue fund of the City of Hannibal as a payment “in lieu of franchise tax” is viola-tive of the so-called Hancock Amendment (Art. X, § 22(a) of the Missouri Constitution).

Since 1914 the City of Hannibal has provided certain utility services to its resi*945dents. The city currently owns and operates a water and sewer system and also distributes electricity. These utility systems are expressly authorized by statute.1

In…