The Platte County Commission voted unanimously at a recent meeting to keep the county’s property tax levy at 1 cent for 2027.
The vote came amid considerable disagreement between Presiding Commissioner Scott Fricker and County Auditor Kevin Robinson over the county’s financial outlook, the timing and lack of advance documentation for the projections and whether the decision to reduce the levy to 1 cent in 2024 was an “experiment” or a policy move.
When the public hearing on the tax levy began, Robinson told commissioners that keeping the county’s property tax levy at 1 cent could put increased pressure on the general fund because the county faces higher operating expenses and upcoming payments for its radio system.
He said the original 2019 financial projections for the law enforcement sales tax assumed the property tax levy would remain at 6 cents throughout the tax’s 10-year life. Those projections assumed annual sales tax growth of 2% and annual salary and benefit increases of 5%. Robinson said they had not anticipated more substantial wage increases that have since been implemented, including increases of 15% and 29% to address wage compression and keep county salaries competitive.
Robinson said about $4 million was held in the law enforcement reserve in 2024, but the county’s 2026 budget calls for drawing $1 million from that reserve.
The county also moved up a planned radio system upgrade due to concerns about higher costs associated with tariffs. The radio operations budget had increased from $750,000 to $1.5 million in 2025, with about $950,000 spent that year. The remaining $550,000 was carried into 2026 and has since been spent on the project.
According to Robinson, additional radio system obligations include approximately $1.5 million, followed by payments of $900,000 and $500,000 as the contract winds down in 2029 and 2030.
The county reduced its property tax levy from 6 cents to 1 cent in 2024 in what Robinson described as a “two-year experiment.” He said 2026 property tax collections are about $390,000 and projected that a 1-cent levy would generate about $410,000 in 2027.
Robinson said 2026 revenues could finish approximately $1 million to $1.5 million above budget, while expenditures could leave between $1.2 million and $2.1 million in unused budgeted funds. Together, he estimated the county could enter the 2027 budget year with about $2.3 million to $3 million in cash carryover. By comparison, the county budgeted $5.6 million in cash carryover for 2026 and $6.2 million in 2025.
Robinson warned that maintaining the status quo could leave the county facing circumstances similar to a previous period when commissioners had to increase the property tax levy to pay for the radio system. He also said the radio contract was certified based on funding that included the 6-cent levy and cautioned that without those property tax collections, the county would have to rely more heavily on its general reserve fund.
Fricker challenged Robinson’s projections, leading to a lengthy exchange between the two.
“I have a couple comments in response to that,” Fricker said. “Number one, reducing the levy to 1 cent was not an experiment. That was a policy move. Number two, for you to come forward with projections like this the day we vote for the levy is pretty ridiculous. If you really wanted to make a point and get the levy amount correct, wouldn’t you have made this case weeks ago?”
Fricker criticized Robinson for not providing the projections to commissioners in advance, questioning how they could make an informed decision without having time to review the figures.
“I have no idea about whether or not anything that you’re saying is true,” Fricker said. “Some of the things, obviously, I know historically speaking are true. But you have not showed us these numbers in advance. You have not given us an opportunity to speak to this. I have been here four years now and I have yet to see any budget projections beyond the auditor’s recommended budget that we get every year in the fall.”
Fricker said he had been asking for multiyear budget projections since becoming presiding commissioner and had yet to receive them.
“We have to make a decision in August about the following year’s budget and we have nothing from the county’s chief budget officer to go on,” Fricker said. “So, while I appreciate your comments, they’re a little late.”
Robinson responded that he provided commissioners on July 27 with projections showing where the county was expected to stand financially at the end of 2026.
Fricker questioned whether those figures amounted to the multiyear budget projections he had requested and said commissioners had not sat down to discuss them. He characterized the projections as information that “just showed up in an email.”
Robinson disputed that characterization, saying he had met with Fricker to discuss the projections, although he acknowledged they were not presented as a multiyear forecast.
“That was not a legitimate set of budget projections, okay?” Fricker said. “Listen, I’m telling you, we have not had an opportunity to forecast in the future. Appreciate your comments.”
Robinson responded, “I will tell you the same thing that I told you before. If you want multiyear forecasts, then you have to provide me with some idea of the direction because without…”
Fricker interrupted him and replied, “You’re the budget officer. You’re the budget officer. How about you provide some assumptions and then let us respond to those? Do you want us to do the budget projections for you? You have not provided budget projections ever since I have been here and probably as long as you’ve been the auditor. I don’t know, but it’s likely the case.”
Robinson countered those statements, “were not accurate.”
Second District Commissioner Joe Vanover then questioned Robinson, asking whether he wanted property taxes to be increased or to remain the same.
“I’m not saying that,” Robinson replied. “I’m just simply pointing out where it looks like we are headed for the 2027 budgeting process, which is currently underway. And it was quoted as an experiment, a two-year budget experiment by Commissioner Vanover.”
Fricker then said Robinson was using Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd’s terminology, not Vanover’s.
“You are quoting prosecutor Zahnd who called it a failed budget experiment,” Fricker stated. “Are you carrying Zahnd’s water today? I’m sure he appreciates that wherever he is.”
Robinson said, “That’s not true,” as he exited the podium and returned to his seat.
Platte County Commission meetings are held twice a month on the first and third Mondays at 10 a.m. in the meeting room at 415 Third St. in Platte City. The meetings are livestreamed for those unable to attend and can be watched later on the Platte County, Missouri Government YouTube channel.
