06/06/2018
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo (June 6, 2018) Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released an audit of Osage County, which received an overall rating of fair. The report found several errors and miscalculations related to property taxes.
"Taxpayers deserve accountability with every cent of their money, and that means ensuring tax rates are calculated fairly and in accordance with the law," Auditor Galloway said. "It appears county officials will take these issues seriously and do what is right by returning taxes that were over collected back to residents."
State law allows voters to approve a county sales tax, but requires property taxes be reduced by a certain percentage, based on the total revenue generated by the sales tax increase. Osage County residents approved two sales tax increases with a property tax reduction of 50 percent. Auditors reviewed four years of calculations and found the county has collected $95,000 in excess property taxes. County officials indicated they will correct the calculation and return the excess collections to taxpayers over a five-year period.
The audit raised concerns related to the county's railroad and utility tax collections. An error in property tax statements to 15 railroads and utilities in the county resulted in schools receiving $2,100 less than what they should have received. The audit recommended procedures be put in place to ensure the accuracy of future billings.
A complete copy of the Osage County audit is here.
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