Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Jan 30, 2025
RICK PARKER, Assessor Reynolds County, Missouri, Appellant vs. THE DOE RUN RESOURCES CORPORATION, Respondent
Rick Parker, Assessor for Reynolds County, appealed the circuit court's judgment affirming the State Tax Commission's (STC) decision regarding the property tax assessment of The Doe Run Resources Corporation's leasehold interest in federal land. The Assessor contended the STC misapplied Frontier Airlines, Inc. v. State Tax Comm'n by using the "bonus value" method instead of the Assessor's "income-based royalty approach." The appellate court affirmed, holding that Frontier Airlines controls, requiring the "bonus value" method for leasehold interests in tax-exempt property, and the Assessor's proposed method improperly valued the tax-exempt real estate itself.