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JEFFERSON CITY — Local government officials Wednesday urged state lawmakers to tread carefully as they consider changes to Missouri’s property tax system.

Libraries, ambulance districts and firefighters from across the state said the Legislature should avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to reforming property taxes because of differences in how counties and local governments generate revenue to pay for services.

“I’m here to advocate for the lower population counties out there. Please do not rush,” said Brian Gaudet of the Hillsboro Fire Protection District.

“We’re not opposing change. We’re here to be part of the solution,” said Robin Westphal, director of the Daniel Boone Regional Library in Columbia.

Trent Ford of the Ambulance District Association of Missouri said rural areas do not have a large enough business base to support a switch away from property taxes to sales taxes.

The testimony came at the first meeting of a special House committee on property taxes, formed earlier this summer by Speaker Jon Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit.

Initially, Patterson said the 20-member panel could craft a solution in time for a special legislative session in September, but committee chairman Rep. Tim Taylor, R-Bunceton, said that was unlikely.

In all, the committee plans seven hearings across the state in the coming weeks with an eye on having legislation ready when lawmakers return in January.

“None of us like how this system is working,” Taylor said.

Property taxes are the primary source of revenue for local governments, funding schools, public safety and other functions.

But, rising housing prices, coupled with property reassessments, have put the way the taxes are calculated under a microscope.

Lawmakers took a stab at property tax reform in June, approving a plan to limit property tax increases in 97 mostly rural counties.

Under the new law, 22 counties could have their property taxes frozen at the current rate, and 75 would be limited to only a 5% maximum increase every two years. The freeze or limitations would need to be voted on by the county’s residents.

Property taxes could still be increased through a voter-approved levy or if the value of property increases due to renovations or new construction.

Republican members of the committee said Missourians are over-taxed.

“We literally fought a revolution over this very issue,” said Rep. Darin Chappell, R-Rogersville.

“It is my vision that we look very hard at transitioning away from property tax and transitioning away from income tax,” said Chappell, who favors more reliance on usage taxes.

Rep. Chris Warwick, R-Bolivar, said his hometown has eliminated the property tax in favor of a sales tax.

But Rep. Dean Van Schoiack, R-Savannah, said smaller counties with few businesses could not be switched to a sales tax-based system without bankrupting local governments.

Democrats said the panel needs to find a balance between tax relief and government services.

“I know no one likes to pay taxes,” said Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, D-Columbia. “But I want to be equally protective of our communities.”

Rep. Del Taylor, D-ӣ����Ƶ, said a one-size-fits-all fix may not work in Missouri.

“We have a very diverse state. Things are not the same in the northeast as they are in the southeast,” Taylor said. “Different places are going to have different desires.”