After members of the Platte County Salary Commission walked away from last week’s meeting with some unanswered questions, Platte County commissioners have decided to ask for written legal advice regarding COLA’s (cost of living adjustments) for the county’s elected officeholders. According to second district commissioner Jim Plunkett, all three commissioners–Plunkett, presiding commissioner Betty night and first district commissioner Tom Pryor–on Monday signed a letter asking for that written opinion from county counselor Bob Shaw.
Platte County Presiding Commissioner Betty Knight, the local elected official who likely has more experience with tax increment financing (TIF) projects than any other, expressed concern this week with how tax dollars captured by the TIF would be spent in the Shoppes of North Gate development proposed at I-29 and Main Street in Platte City. To this point, much of the discussion has focused on how the TIF project might potentially affect school funding. However, county officials are now focusing on the developer’s intention of including the county’s dedicated 3/8 cent roads and half cent parks sales taxes, which were approved by voters, in the TIF as well.
Anticipating a crowd, Dearborn’s leaders have decided to move a public meeting next week to the high school gym at North Platte. The long-awaited results of a state audit of the city’s books and procedures will be announced next Tuesday, Nov. 1, 6:30 p.m. at the North Platte High School. The office of Missouri State Auditor Claire McCaskill will deliver a public report on the audit of the City of Dearborn.