Opinion No. 198-80 (1980)

Dear Senator Bradshaw:

This letter is in response to your question asking:

May a ``housing authority', created under provisions of RSMo § 99.040, do business under a name that does not include the words ``the housing authority'? Specifically, may the housing authority of Springfield, Missouri do business as ``H.A.S. Properties' without violating RSMo § 99.040?

Section 99.040, RSMo, to which you refer, provides in pertinent part:

1. In each city (as herein defined) and in each county of the state there is hereby created a municipal corporation to be known as ``the housing authority' of the city or county; . . . .

It is our view that the statute prescribes the name of such housing authority, and there is no legal authority that we are aware of which would authorize such a municipal corporation to adopt a name not consistent with such provisions.

Very truly yours,

JOHN ASHCROFT Attorney General