Why all of Missouri has to vote on a Jackson County position in August

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) -Missourians across the state will vote on whether to make the Jackson County property assessor an elected position, one of four constitutional amendments on the August 4 ballot.

Jackson County is currently the only county in Missouri where the assessor, the official who determines property values for tax purposes, is appointed rather than elected. That distinction is written into the Missouri Constitution, which means changing it requires a statewide vote, even though the measure directly affects only Jackson County residents.

Election day is August 4. No-excuse absentee voting begins July 21.

Amendment 2 requires all charter counties, including Jackson County, to elect a county assessor and requires assessors to comply with training requirements established by state law.

The ballot will read: “Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

• require all charter counties, including Jackson County, to provide for the election of a county assessor; and
• require assessors in all charter counties to comply with any training requirements established by general law?

State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.”

Republican State Rep. Jon Patterson from Jackson County said the amendment grew out of widespread frustration with property tax assessments in the county. On why a statewide vote is required for a county-level change, Patterson pointed to the structure of the state constitution.

“It is a little quirk of the constitution that it’s in there and right now Jackson County is the one county that doesn’t,” Patterson said. “So, to change the constitution we need to take it to a vote of the people, which is the right thing to do,” Patterson said.

Patterson said making the assessor an elected position would give residents more direct accountability over the process.

“If citizens feel like they’re not being treated fairly in the assessment process, they will now get to go to the polls and vote in somebody who is qualified and who they feel like will be able to do the job, just like all the other counties are able to do,” Patterson said.

Democratic State Rep. Emily Weber, also from Jackson County, noted county residents already approved a change to the county charter last year to make the assessor an elected position. Amendment 2 would enshrine that change in the state constitution.

“Jackson County actually passed this last year. So, we voted on it and we passed it. Amendment 2, which is kind of annoying that we’re voting on it again, but this puts it into the constitution where we can’t change,” Weber said.

Weber said she plans to vote yes on Amendment 2. Patterson added that he believes the statewide electorate will view the measure favorably.

“If people across the state are looking to see, ‘Is it the right thing to do? Is it what Jackson Countians want?’ I think they would see it’s yes on both accounts,” Patterson said.