State budget cuts hit county assessor

Tuesday, November 3, 2009
By SYDNEY STONNER/Staff writer

At their meeting Tuesday morning, Nov. 3, Saline County Commissioners announced a statewide budget reduction for county assessors in Missouri of $1.99 per parcel of land.

In Saline County, the land reimbursement from the state will fall from $5.99 to $4 for each of the 15,920 parcels. In the third and fourth quarter of this fiscal year, the reduction will total $31,680.80, from $95,360.80 to $63,680.

"We weren't expecting it," Saline County Assessor Margaret Pond said about the cuts. "We'll just have to do what we can do."

Pond said the assessor's office now receives .5 percent of total tax collections -- it used to be just .25 percent -- and she hopes those funds will help offset the cuts. The land reimbursement funds go toward the office's general operating revenue.

In other business, commissioners announced a meeting of the Saline County Salary Commission Thursday, Nov. 5, at 10 a.m. in the circuit courtroom.

The purpose of the meeting is to elect a chairperson and discuss the salaries of elected county officials.

Also at the meeting, Saline County Clerk Ken Bryant spoke about Election Day.

"We've had, I think, a fairly good turnout so far this morning," he said, noting that more than 200 votes had already been cast in Marshall's Ward I.

Bryant said the good weather Tuesday was "a little bit of a mixed bag" in terms of affecting turnout. It encourages people, especially the elderly, to get out and vote, he said, though after such a rainy October, farmers may be more inclined to work in the fields on a sunny day than go to the polls.

All commissioners were present at the meeting. Commissioners will meet again Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 9 a.m. in the lower level of the courthouse.

Contact Sydney Stonner at marshallbusiness@socket.net

Comments

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My point still stands whether you agree or not. They made a mistake by basing the assessors salary on the assed valuation of the county. I would like to have a job that I control of how much assessed valuation is on file?? So tear me up for my comment, who cares!

-- Posted by Gumby on Thu, Nov 5, 2009, at 12:28 AM

Kathy,

Thanks for singling me out in every comment made, It's nice to be loved so much!

-- Posted by Gumby on Thu, Nov 5, 2009, at 12:25 AM

A brief scan of Missouri revised statutes shows the elected officials of collector, assesssor, clerk, treasurer, commissioners and the auditor are all paid based on the assessed valuation. I'd check the rest of them, but thought Gumby might want to check that out for a change.

-- Posted by Kathy Fairchild on Tue, Nov 3, 2009, at 4:51 PM

Most, if not all, of the county salaries are based on the assessed value, not just the assessor.

-- Posted by Kathy Fairchild on Tue, Nov 3, 2009, at 4:44 PM

Calling it a mistake, makes it appear as if it was not intentional.

-- Posted by JOwnby on Tue, Nov 3, 2009, at 4:12 PM

The State made a hugh mistake when they made the salary of the Assessors based on the assessment of the county!

-- Posted by Gumby on Tue, Nov 3, 2009, at 3:17 PM