MARIES COUNTY — County commissioners approved supporting the Opportunity Zones 2.0 project on May 11 to encourage economic development in northeast Maries County.

The project encourages investors to economically develop businesses, housing and infrastructure in low-income areas. Zones are census-designated tracts, and 29125880100 is the qualifying tract number, which includes the Belle area.

The commissioners believe that this program can help the community and increase tax revenue.

“It can help somebody out, brings a new business in or new restaurant or revitalizes something,” said Vic Stratman, presiding commissioner. “Increases quality of life for somebody or a number of people. It’s great.”

Bonnie Prigge, executive director of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), briefed the commissioners on the project. Samie Chitwood from Mid-State Pipeline, Belle Treasurer Charro Reasor, Realtor Erica Smith and Belle Alderman Steve Vogt also attended the meeting.

Investors who deposit realized capital gains into Qualified Opportunity Funds within 180 days receive tax deferments, reductions or exclusions, depending on how long the property is held. Uses for these funds include startup businesses and repurposing existing buildings.

To qualify as a rural zone, its population must meet certain income thresholds:

• Median family income below 70 percent of the state; or

• A poverty rate of 20 percent or higher and a median family income below 125 percent of the state.

To be considered rural, the city or town must have under 50,000 residents and not be an urbanized area adjacent to a city with 50,000 or more people.

No census tracts in Maries County qualified for the original program when President Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 into law. But this time around, the northeastern tract was eligible.

The second version of the program increases the tax benefits for rural communities and makes the five-year deferral period per investment instead of a fixed deadline.

When Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in 2025, this made the Opportunity Zones 2.0 program a permanent part of the tax code. These zones will be redesignated every 10 years. Current zones from the first program will remain active until Dec. 31, 2028, resulting in two years of overlap. Jan. 1, 2027, is when the new zones will become effective.

The commissioners also discussed the new Amish communities on Highways 42 and EE near Belle, raising concerns about road safety and taxes.

According to Britannica, the Amish are Christians, originating from the Mennonite church, known for their simple lifestyle. They typically wear plain clothing and drive with a horse and buggy.

The commissioners recognized the need for horse-drawn carriage warning signs on Highways 42, 28, and EE so that drivers are more cautious to avoid collisions.

“We sure don’t want to get anybody hurt,” Stratman said.

County Assessor Dana Simmons also visited the commission meeting to share about the Amish tax situation. Stratman asked her if the Amish pay taxes, and Simmons said that they do pay property taxes on land and vehicles.

“They’re really good about turning everything in,” Simmons said.

However, their properties are often assessed at lower value because their buildings don’t have the same utilities most buildings have, such as electricity. Simmons also said that their buildings made from used materials also have lower property values.