Aug. 15, 2019

Today, Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. sent the attached correspondence to the Chair of the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee requesting that the County Legislature use its lobbyist to develop a plan for common-sense reforms to the state-mandated reassessment process.

“The Legislature has a lobbyist to advocate on its behalf in Jefferson City and recommend strategic solutions to critical issues that are in the best interest of the County,” said Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. “We have heard the concerns of our citizens and now is the time to act if we want to see real change before the 2021 biennial real property reassessment process.”

Recommendations for reform include protecting seniors, low and middle income property owners and those in neighborhoods with widespread gentrification from the impacts of increasing property values. The letter also recommends that the County Legislature’s lobbyist fight for adequate funding from the state to assess business, residential and agricultural properties. Currently, the state reimburses the County only $3 per parcel of property, the lowest allowed under state law and half of what the County once received.