HCS SB 820 -- RECLASSIFICATION OF COUNTIES

SPONSOR:  Rupp (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 substitute allows second classification
counties to also change classification 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 change
would entail too many changes too quickly so they want to be a
second classification county for a while before considering
changing to a first classification county.  Changing from third
to second classification would require the county to have a
county auditor, and the county is fully prepared to pay the
auditor's salary.

Testifying for the bill was Senator Rupp.

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 3:12 pm