MARIES COUNTY — There was a large amount of information available to the county elected officials who attended the 2019 Missouri Association of Counties (MAC) Conference and Expo on November 17 and 18 at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Maries County Presiding Commissioner Victor Stratman attended both days. He received some helpful information by talking to other commissioners and attending breakout sessions.

He attended a session on updating counties on jail reimbursement from the state. Maries County and others across Missouri are owed a total of $34 million in jail reimbursement for state prisoners. When a person is charged with a state crime in Maries County, they spend time in jail and the county is supposed to be reimbursed for each day spent in jail. However, because the state does not have enough money to meet all of its financial obligations, this reimbursement money is an area the state simply has not been paying. In fiscal year 2019, the state paid $1.75 million to counties for jail board reimbursement, but it was not even close to what the state owes. This is an area where the counties are footing the bill for the state. Stratman said in the breakout session, “Everybody wants to resolve it but nobody has any money.”

Sheriff Chris Heitman said currently the state is supposed to pay the county $19.50 per day per inmate for jail board, which is $6.50 less than the rate the state paid when Heitman first became sheriff. He estimates the cost of housing a prisoner in the county jail at about $42 per day.

Stratman also attended a session on the looming battle with property tax assessment. There is a movement in the state to eliminate property taxes. Stratman said there is an initiative petition being circulated that eliminates personal property taxes and county elected officials said people will support having less taxes and it will pass if it gets on the ballot . They say such a law ending personal property taxes will probably increase real estate taxes up to 20 percent. The view in the session was to try to get the initiative petition stopped by asking county residents not to sign the petition.

Eastern District Commissioner Doug Drewel said the people who would support eliminating personal property taxes are people who don’t own any real estate and don’t pay real estate taxes. Stratman said it’s a “screwy deal” and the MAC position is asking voters to not sign that particular petition.

He also heard conversation about entities protesting their assessments and taxes such as Doe Run. The elected officials all are against this because if Doe Run refuses to pay, then other entities and utilities will join along and refuse to pay their taxes. It was noted at the MAC session that the State Tax Commission is less than helpful on this issue. When contacted they say they can’t do anything about it.

Stratman also received information about mapping for the assessor’s office.

The MAC Conference approved five resolutions for 2020 the members are asking the state legislature to support.

The No. 1 resolution is in support of fully funding state mandates on county government. MAC also requests the Missouri General Assembly and Governor include in the state’s fiscal year 2021 budget: increase in the prisoner per diem reimbursement, to fully fund state assessment maintenance reimbursements, to fully fund any new obligations on election officials including state payment of its share of primary and general election costs, reimbursement for juvenile costs, pay for public defender office space, relieve counties from salary and retirement contribution increases for county prosecuting attorneys, and refrain from implementing SB 711 relating to property taxes.

MAC Resolution No. 2 asks the Missouri General Assembly to not micro manage county government from Jefferson City due to lack of local authority to deal with local issues.

Resolution No. 3 is in support of a transportation funding package that addresses Missouri’s dire infrastructure needs. This includes a statement that conveying state-owned lettered highway and routes to counties is not a solution as it would be an additional financial hardship on county government and detrimental to the state agricultural economy.

Resolution No. 4 stated MAC’s opposition to legislation that erodes the local tax base and asks the general assembly to address Missouri’s antiquated tax structure. Missouri’s tax system is structured on laws passed in the 1930s and puts local businesses at a competitive disadvantage to businesses that operate outside of the state and do not collect state and local sales tax. This has caused a serious erosion of the local tax base. Other states in the country are ahead of Missouri on this issue.

MAC Resolution No. 5 is in support of the full repeal of the prevailing wage law in Missouri. In accordance with state law, any publicly funded construction project in Missouri must pay prevailing wage. This helps drive up the cost of projects and puts a strain on the budgets of local governments. A more competitive bidding process is needed and will save money if bidders aren’t required to pay prevailing wage.

MAC Resolution No. 6 is in support of the expansion of financial statement publishing options for counties. State law requires the county financial statement to be published each year. The resolution states they could not have foreseen the dawn of the internet and its impact on how 21st century individuals would obtain news. Towns and cities are losing local newspapers. The resolution says posting county financial statement information on the internet can reach many more voters than any bulletin board in the county courthouse. MAC has proposed printing a financial summary in a local newspaper that in turn directs constituents to the internet for more details, which will be of a benefit to everyone.

Governor Michael Parson and Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft were among the state office holders who were at the MAC Conference at some point.