HB 1995 -- RECLASSIFICATION OF COUNTIES

SPONSOR:  Schieffer

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Local Government by a vote of 11 to 0.

Currently, counties can change classification only after their assesse
valuation qualifies for the new classification for five
successive years, except that any county may become a first
classification county at any time after it reaches the required
assessed valuation and the county governing body elects to change
classification.  This bill allows a county to become a second
classification county upon reaching the required assessed
valuation and approval from the governing body.

The effective date for the classification is changed from the
beginning of the county's fiscal year following the next general
election after certification of the new assessed valuation to the
beginning of the county's fiscal year following the election by
the governing body.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2009, FY 2010, and
FY 2011.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that Lincoln County has the assessed
valuation to become a first classification county, but the
process requires too many changes too quickly so they want to go
to second classification for a while before considering changing
to a first classification county.  Changing from third to second
classification will require the county to have a county auditor,
and the county is fully prepared to pay the salary for an
auditor.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Schieffer; Elaine
Luck; and Sean O'Brien.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:11 pm