St. Louis, MO  (KTRS)  A lawsuit is challenging St. Louis’ payroll tax paid by employers.

General Marine Services and attorney and financial adviser Thomas Joseph Neuner claim in their lawsuit filed on Monday, that the half-percent tax was never authorized by the Missouri Legislature.  The legal action also alleges the city has no power to impose it.

The lawsuit doesn’t challenge the 1 percent tax that workers pay on their earnings in the city.

A spokeswoman for Mayor Francis Slay says the payroll tax on employers is expected to raise about $32.8 million in revenue this year. Maggie Crane adds that the city attorneys hadn’t yet seen the suit and were reserving comment.