EDITOR:
The most recent public comments by Platte County Presiding Commissioner Scott Fricker regarding the ‘Senior Tax Freeze’ and the mechanics involved in reviewing and approving applications have been brought to my attention. As Mr. Fricker is well aware, I am fulfilling my responsibilities as assessor which does not include anything regarding taxes or tax freezes.
The statute passed by Senate Bill 190 (Missouri Statute 137.1050) only grants control of the allowance of tax credits to a local county commission. Nothing within the language of Missouri Statute 137.1050 includes a process involving an assessor’s duties or responsibilities. Neither an assessor’s office nor any office outside a county commission’s office has control over the implementation of said law.
Since the Platte County Commission adopted this law, all responsibility falls on them for its implementation. Tax credits are in no way, shape or form controlled by a county assessor’s office.
That said, I am currently providing substantial assistance, as the data my office continuously maintains is invaluable to the processing of tax credit applications. Additionally, the assessor’s office agreed last year to take the list of the commission’s approved applicants, flag the real estate parcel and deliver such to the collector.
My staff, to their credit, work continuously with the county collector’s office and county clerk’s office in providing those offices any information they need to process the applications received for eligible tax credits.
Complete responsibility for the processes and implementation of this law lies with the commission. They had the first workgroup meeting Aug. 14, 2023.
Following that meeting, the commission funded and staffed the clerk’s office to process all applications and perform any other necessary tasks.
It is in no way the responsibility of the assessor’s office that Mr. Fricker has not successfully implemented his Senior Tax Relief program in the last 20 months.
It is regrettable that Presiding Commissioner Fricker would rather point fingers at others than take responsibility for his own program and provide a viable solution for our citizens.
--David Cox
Platte County Assessor
