A judge indicated Wednesday he will issue a preliminary order in a lawsuit seeking to require Platte County Collector Sheila Palmer to apply a voter-approved property tax credit to this year’s tax bills.
Judge Timothy J. Flook heard arguments Oct. 21 on the request from Jason Maki and James Bosch. A hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27.
The preliminary order would require Palmer to respond to the petition. It would not be a final ruling requiring the credit to appear on 2026 tax bills.
“This is a good day for Platte County taxpayers,” Maki said. “Things are moving and it’s moving on a schedule that still allows the credit to be on the bills this year. I’m optimistic that taxpayers are going to see the relief they voted for.”
Maki, the Republican nominee for presiding commissioner, and Bosch, the Republican nominee for collector, filed the petition Sept. 29. They are asking the court to order Palmer to apply the homestead property tax credit to eligible homeowners’ 2026 bills.
The Missouri General Assembly created the credit in 2025. It resets an eligible homeowner’s property tax bill to its 2024 level and limits annual increases to 5% or the rate of inflation, whichever is greater.
Platte County voters approved the credit April 7. The County Commission identified more than 20,500 eligible homes and ordered the credit applied to 2026 tax bills. Palmer’s office has said it plans to implement the credit in 2027.
“Voters approved this credit with 79 percent in April. The County Commission ordered it applied in July. Now a judge is looking at it,” Maki said. “Every step of the way, the answer has been the same: put it on the bill.”
The Missouri Supreme Court assigned Flook, of Clay County, to hear the case after judges in the 6th Judicial Circuit recused themselves.
“Nothing is final yet,” Maki said. “But we’re moving in the right direction.”
