EDITOR:
There would be very little argument that the Roaring 20’s now has hit the United States financially just as devastating as the 20’s of the last two centuries, and it’s only six months into the decade. Congress, passing laws quickly to provide stimulus funds to many entities as a means to support taxpayers and big business, has provided very little guidance as to the use of the funds.
Recent word that Platte County is receiving $12 million from the state is astounding and also a cause for real concern. As Rob Willard, the Platte County Treasurer has pointed out, use of those funds should be transparent so that everyone living in the county can benefit, or at least understand how and for what purpose the funds should be used.
Without transparency, there is a real and present danger significant funds may be inappropriately spent. Regardless of a lack of treasury guidance and vague language in the federal acts, as the funds are filtered down by the state there is still significant need for documented uncompromised contracting procedures at the county level that ensure funds are not funneled to inappropriate sole source open funding commitment contracts.
At the present time, there are NO statutory state requirements establishing minimum administrative and contracting processes and procedures for counties and county commissioners, except those under Home Rule charter.
Jackson, St. Louis, St Charles and Jefferson counties are considered Classification 1 “home rule charters” allowing establishment of a government of organized legal and administrative regulations and rules, established by the Missouri Constitution at Chapter 82.
Chapter 48, 48.020, effective May 10, 2010, establishes “Classification of counties into four classes for purpose of organization and power – classification, how determined – annual increase to assessed valuation,” as described below:
There is a total of 114 counties in Missouri. Platte and Clay counties are identified as Classification 1 Non-Charter, with an assessed valuation of $900 million. There are approximately 14 counties identified as such in the state.
There are 3 counties identified as Classification 2 with an assessed value of $600 million, approximately 103 counties identified as Classification 3, assessed valuation of less than $600 million, and 4 counties identified as Classification 4, which are really Classification 2 counties which operate under the laws of classification 2.
All 110 counties in Missouri not Home Rule chartered are governed by the statues provided in Chapters 48 and 49. Chapter 49, 49.010 establishes the “County court to be known as county commission – membership of commission – two districts in each county.” 49.020 establishes that each commissioner shall be a resident of the county and each commissioner elected from a district shall be a resident of the district from which such commissioner was elected. It also establishes a presiding commissioner be elected at large, residing in the county, making it a total of three commissioners. There are NO educational or other eligibility requirements, only residency.
The stark difference in the home rule classification and all the other counties is the level of management and administration of county business. There are 110 counties under total county commission rule. There are NO statutory requirements, no regulations or rules that require standardized county functions such as Human Resources, Accounting, Contracting, Procurement, Records or Information Technology. No restrictions. Incoming commissioners are not required to maintain any prior systems established.
–Carol Clopton
Kansas City
in Platte County