Latest news with #RSMo
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Greene County grants tax relief to storm-hit homeowners
GREENE COUNTY, Mo. – Property tax relief is being offered to Greene County residents whose homes were made unlivable by the severe storms that struck the Ozarks on April 29, 2025. Greene County Assessor Brent Johnson is notifying residents that property tax relief in the form of property value may be available for some homeowners. Under Missouri law (RSMo 137.082), Greene County is an 'Occupancy Law' county, allowing the Assessor to prorate the taxable value of residential properties that are uninhabitable due to natural disasters such as tornadoes, floods, fires, or earthquakes. 'After personally witnessing the extensive damage sustained by many homes in our community, I want to ensure that residents are aware of this opportunity to reduce their property tax burden while their homes are unoccupied and undergoing repairs,' said Assessor Brent Johnson in a press release. Eligible property owners may apply for prorated property value by completing the Destroyed Residential Property Claim Form, available on the Greene County Assessor's website: Important Information for Applicants: Only residential properties are eligible for relief under this program. Property owners must notify the Assessor's Office using the form mentioned above. Properties must be inspected by the Assessor's Office during the unoccupied period. (including the approval) Owners must provide supporting documentation, including insurance claim numbers and repair estimates (these may be submitted as they become available). Property owners are required to notify the Assessor's Office immediately upon reoccupancy or completion of repairs. Property that is uninhabited after 12 months will require additional documentation. For further assistance regarding this program, property owners may contact the Greene County Assessor's Office at: 417-868-4101 or exemptions@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State auditor finds lacking transparency in Stone County Developmental Disability Board
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Stone County Developmental Disability Board needs to operate more transparently and improve compliance with state law, according to a report released Monday, April 28, by Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick. The audit gives the Board a rating of 'fair' and recommends improved compliance with the Missouri Sunshine Law. According to a news release from the state auditor's office, the audit report highlights that the Board's Operations and Finance committees 'did not always provide notice of the time, date and place of each meeting, and did not prepare or provide tentative agendas.' The report also says that without maintaining meeting minutes and providing public notice of Board committee meetings, the Board lacks an official record and there is no transparency regarding the actions taken during committee meetings. Missouri agencies warn of scam text posing as Missouri Department of Revenue Additionally, the report found the Board violated the Sunshine Law by discussing and voting to increase the Executive Director's salary from $90,000 to $125,000 annually in the December 21, 2023, closed meeting. 'It's disappointing to see the Board doesn't consistently comply with the provisions of the Sunshine Law and in doing so prevents the public from having an adequate level of access to, and knowledge of, Board committee decisions and actions,' said Fitzpatrick in the release. Fitzpatrick also said the Board disagreed with many of the report's findings, made an incorrect claim that it doesn't qualify as a political subdivision, and provided a response that seems to indicate the Board believes compliance with state law is not mandatory. In addition, the audit found the Board did not comply with state law when it procured a construction manager for the construction of a facility to house all Board operations. The Board solicited proposals from construction managers for the facility using the construction manager-at-risk method outlined in Missouri state law, and in March 2024, awarded a contract to a construction manager for a guaranteed maximum price of $2.75 million. 'Sharks' Helicopter Battalion reunion held in Branson However, Section 67.5050(2), RSMo, allows this procurement method only for building projects that exceed $3 million. According to the report, the Board disagrees with that finding and makes the claim that 'it is not a political subdivision and thus not subject to the relevant statute.' However, Auditor Fitzpatrick says by its own admission, the Board is clearly a political subdivision as it defines itself as such on its own official website. 'I hope this report shines some additional light on the operation of the Board for the taxpayers of Stone County and the numerous individuals who have questioned Board decisions in recent years,' said Fitzpatrick. The full audit report for the Stone County Developmental Disability Board is available . Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Unpaid taxes may block Gladstone City Council winner from taking office, city says
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Molly Gibson won the Gladstone City Council seat in April's municipal election – but now the city says she may not be allowed to take office. 'On April 8th I was honored to be elected to the Gladstone City Council, but now that right is being threatened,' Gibson said in a Facebook post Friday. Teens killed in Saturday crash were students leaving Shawnee Mission South prom She said the city is attempting to block her from taking her seat after she defeated 13-year incumbent and former mayor, Bill Garnos. After the election, the City of Gladstone said it was made aware that Gibson had not paid her 2024 personal property taxes before the election, including an outstanding balance owed to the city. Section 77.380, RSMo, and City Code Section 1.105.340 both state, 'No person shall be elected or appointed to any office who shall at the time be in arrears for any unpaid city taxes.' After consulting with legal counsel, the city said it 'does not have the authority to declare Ms. Gibson as elected to office.' In a news release, a spokesperson for Gibson called this a 'stunning rejection of local democracy.' 'This is about more than one seat,' Gibson said. 'It's about whether the people of Gladstone get to choose their leaders—or whether those in power get to choose for them.' She said voters deserve better than backroom decisions and political games. 'Paying personal property taxes is a challenge that many hard working Missouri families face,' Gibson said on Facebook. 'Oversight or inability to pay shouldn't disqualify someone from public service – especially when the voters have already spoken.' She said the delinquent tax matter was handled immediately, before the election results were certified. 'However, the city preemptively declared the council seat vacant, and have made their intentions to appoint my opponent clear,' she said. 'This is not a situation of the city's making,' the city said in a press release sent out Saturday. 'As a municipality, the city is obligated to uphold state law and does not have the authority to selectively enforce it. 'Additionally, the circumstances that have led to the application of this law were not initiated or influenced by the city.' See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri FOX4 reached out to the city to ask who or what organization brought this matter to its attention, if it was not initiated by the city. We are awaiting a response. Gibson said she is taking legal action to 'uphold the will of the voters,' and she is asking for the community's support. 'Legal fees are expensive, and the fight ahead won't be easy, but it is worth it,' Gibson said on Facebook. 'I am asking you to stand with me.' The city council said it has not taken any formal action on this issue. However, according to the press release issued by Gibson's team, the city manager has said that the city council may choose to leave Garnos in place until the next election. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
No-excuse absentee voting for 2025 municipal election begins Tuesday
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Those who are registered to vote in Greene County's General Municipal Election on April 8, 2025, will have the option to vote absentee in the coming says. Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller announced that no excuse, in-person absentee voting will begin on Tuesday, March 25 at the Greene County Elections Center at 1126 Boonville Ave. in Springfield. In-person absentee voting will be open at the elections center from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday, April 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. until the day before the election. To vote absentee, voters will have to show photo identification in one of the following forms: A nonexpired Missouri driver or non-driver license; A nonexpired military ID, including a veteran's ID card; A nonexpired United States passport; Another photo ID issued by the United States or the state of Missouri that is either not expired or expired after the date of the most recent general election. Those who want to vote before Tuesday, March 25 or vote absentee by mail must provide a valid excuse for the following reasons: Absence on Election Day from the jurisdiction of the election authority in which such voter is registered to vote; Incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability on Election Day, including a person who is primarily responsible for the physical care of a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability and resides at the same address; Religious belief or practice; Employment as an election authority or by an election authority at a location other than such voter's polling place, a first responder, a health care worker, or a member of law enforcement; Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained; Certified participation in the address confidentiality program established under RSMo 589.660 to 589.681 because of safety concerns. Sample ballots for the election are available in the Greene County Clerk's office and online on the Greene County Elections website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Missouri's list of rejected 2024 license plates
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The state of Missouri rejected nearly 400 requests for personalized license plates in 2024. According to the Missouri Department of Revenue, the plates were rejected on the grounds of being obscene or profane, violating RSMo 301.144.3 and 12 C.S.R 10-23.185. Profanity is strictly prohibited, and combinations of letters and numbers designed to look like profanity are also not allowed. Missouri's regulations also advise against personalized license plates that are contemptuous of racial or ethnic groups or would pose an unreasonable danger to public safety. To acquire a personalized license plate in Missouri, also known as vanity plate, one must complete and submit an application form, pay an application fee, and pay a $15 annual fee to renew the plates if approved. FOX 2 recently filed an open records request to obtain a full list of rejected license plates in Missouri last year. There were 379 in total. DISCLAIMER: Viewer discretion is advised for the remainder of this story. The following is for mature audiences and may contain potentially strong or inappropriate language. FOX 2 has modified some parts of requested plates in a list provided below with an asterisk. There were 14 rejected license plates that appeared to be going for some variation of the expression 'Hawk Tuah,' part of a viral Internet meme in the middle of the year. The earliest of these requests came on July 3, 2024, with applicants seeking plates such as 'HWK2A,' 'HWK2UA' and 'HWKTWA.' These were a few with fairly obvious translations of terms or phrases that pushed boundaries: MURDR (Application date: 1/8/2024) OHFUDG (1/19/2024) B3AV3R (1/19/2024) LSD100 (2/8/2024) P0ACHR (3/13/2024) G0TP00 (3/13/2024) BUMPNN (3/13/2024) S4LTYB (3/13/2024) SPANKT (3/18/2024) 4SSMAN (4/25/2024) MTBALZ (4/30/2024) MDLFGR (8/14/2024) BADDAZ (9/16/204) There were dozens of license plates that used some variation of a well-known four-letter curse word, some requesting plates that possibly aimed to send messages about 401Ks (*401K), taxes (F*TAXS) and Mizzou's rival Kansas University (F***KU). Several attempts to connect that same curse word with 46th U.S. President Joe Biden were also rejected. For a full list of rejected license plates in Missouri, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
