COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH OVERSIGHT DIVISION FISCAL NOTE L.R. No.:0415H.03C Bill No.:HCS for HB 249 Subject:Political Subdivisions; County Officials; Counties; Taxation and Revenue - Property Type:Original Date:March 18, 2025Bill Summary:This proposal modifies provisions relating to county officials. FISCAL SUMMARY ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON GENERAL REVENUE FUNDFUND AFFECTEDFY 2026FY 2027FY 2028Total Estimated Net Effect on General Revenue $0$0$0 ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON OTHER STATE FUNDSFUND AFFECTEDFY 2026FY 2027FY 2028Total Estimated Net Effect on Other State Funds $0$0$0 Numbers within parentheses: () indicate costs or losses. L.R. No. 0415H.03C Bill No. HCS for HB 249 Page 2 of March 18, 2025 NM:LR:OD ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDSFUND AFFECTEDFY 2026FY 2027FY 2028Total Estimated Net Effect on All Federal Funds $0$0$0 ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FULL TIME EQUIVALENT (FTE)FUND AFFECTEDFY 2026FY 2027FY 2028Total Estimated Net Effect on FTE 000 ☐ Estimated Net Effect (expenditures or reduced revenues) expected to exceed $250,000 in any of the three fiscal years after implementation of the act or at full implementation of the act. ☐ Estimated Net Effect (savings or increased revenues) expected to exceed $250,000 in any of the three fiscal years after implementation of the act or at full implementation of the act. ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDSFUND AFFECTEDFY 2026FY 2027FY 2028 Local Government (Unknown, could exceed $3,248,154) (Unknown, could exceed $3,592,585) (Unknown, could exceed $3,592,585) L.R. No. 0415H.03C Bill No. HCS for HB 249 Page 3 of March 18, 2025 NM:LR:OD FISCAL ANALYSIS ASSUMPTION §§50.327 & 58.095 – Compensation for County Coroners and Salary Schedules for 3 rd Class Counties Oversight assumes §§50.327 & 58.095 state the county commission is responsible for determining the salary for the county coroner in non-charter counties. Section 58.095 contains the base schedule of salaries as determined by the assessed valuation of the county. Section 50.327 adds an additional salary increase of up to $14,000 on top of the base schedule if approved by the county commission. Oversight is unclear of how much each county coroner receives in salary. However, there are 109 non-charter counties that could be considered for the additional funds in section 58.095 (if approved by the appropriate county commission). Oversight assumes if all of these counties approved the $14,000 increase, this could be up to $1,526,000 in increased salaries for coroners. However, Oversight assumes no increase coroner’s salaries would take place without the approval by the county commission. Therefore, Oversight will assume a cost of $0 (no salary increases) or up to $1,526,000 (salary increases approved in every non-charter county) for coroners for this proposal. Oversight also notes in §50.327.4 relates to the following 3 rd class counties and their assessed valuations as of the 2024 tax year that are greater than the three hundred million dollars: L.R. No. 0415H.03C Bill No. HCS for HB 249 Page 4 of March 18, 2025 NM:LR:OD C ounty 2 024 C lassification A ssessed Valuation A dair 3 4 31,292,389 A ndrew 3 3 41,791,023 A udrain 3 4 92,662,764 B arry 3 6 56,491,858 B ates 3 3 09,402,969 B enton 3 3 61,776,102 B utler 3 7 43,013,907 C linton 3 3 95,423,019 C ooper 3 3 26,451,062 C rawford 3 3 94,239,892 D unklin 3 3 38,397,158 H enry 3 5 09,746,085 H owell 3 5 95,717,991 L aclede 3 5 48,612,641 L awrence 3 6 48,981,038 M acon 3 3 03,285,241 M arion 3 6 46,308,723 M cDonald 3 3 34,745,181 M iller 3 5 49,014,168 M organ 3 6 21,907,704 N ew Madrid 3 5 01,175,308 N odaway 3 4 38,750,586 P erry 3 4 63,605,730 P helps 3 7 42,578,160 P ike 3 3 67,902,188 P olk 3 4 63,663,455 P ulaski 3 6 03,898,603 R andolph 3 5 84,294,914 R ay 3 4 51,950,374 S cott 3 6 13,418,466 S te. Genevieve 3 1 ,002,309,462 S toddard 3 6 16,390,991 S tone 3 9 32,706,428 T exas 3 3 19,420,143 V ernon 3 3 16,903,855 W arren 3 8 00,440,678 W ashington 3 3 32,494,365 W ebster 3 5 82,114,337 L.R. No. 0415H.03C Bill No. HCS for HB 249 Page 5 of March 18, 2025 NM:LR:OD Oversight notes the proposal does not specify how the base schedules should be amended for the computation of salaries for 3 rd class county positions. Currently, the base salary for each of the positions in this section are as follows: Therefore, Oversight will also assume $0 (no adjustment to salaries) or unknown additional costs to 3 rd class county salaries for this section of the proposal. §57.317 – Sheriff Salaries – Boone County Oversight notes county commissions were asked to respond to Oversight’s request for fiscal impact, but did not provide any information. Oversight notes this proposal pertains to the Boone County Sheriff’s salary. Oversight assumes this does not place a limitation on the salary of the Boone County Sheriff and, therefore, there could be a potential increase from the salary that would be higher than what current statute dictates. Because Oversight is unclear on how much of an increase could be received by the Boone County Sheriff, Oversight will assume a $0 or unknown cost to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. §473.742 – Salaries of Public Administrators Oversight notes each county has a public administrator, including the City of St. Louis. Oversight also notes that, currently, an incoming public administrator may elect to receive a salary or receive fees as may be allowed by law. Under terms of this proposal every public administrator beginning a first term on or after January 1, 2025, shall be deemed to have elected to receive a salary as provided in this section. Oversight assumes this proposal would potentially increase the salaries in 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th class counties based on assessed valuation. Oversight took the highest salary cap at 39 letters opened of $25,000 and calculated the difference in salary that would be increased based on the assessed valuation in the chart below. Using the Total Assessed B ase Salary a t $300,000,000 S ection A ssessed Valuation 4 9.082 C ounty Commissioners 2 9,700 $ 5 0.334 R ecorder of Deeds 4 5,000 $ 5 1.281 C ounty Clerks 4 5,000 $ 5 1.282 C ounty Clerk (Clay) 3 4,500 $ 5 2.269 C ounty Collectors 4 5,000 $ 5 3.082 A ssessors 4 5,000 $ 5 3.083 A ssessor (Clay) N /A 5 4.261 T reasurers 4 5,000 $ 5 4.320 C ollector/Treasurer (Townships) 4 5,000 $ 5 5.091 A uditor 4 5,000 $ 5 6.265 P rosecuting Attorneys 5 5,000 $ 5 8.095 C oroners 1 6,000 $ 4 73.742 P ublic Administrators 4 5,000 $ L.R. No. 0415H.03C Bill No. HCS for HB 249 Page 6 of March 18, 2025 NM:LR:OD Valuation by County from the 2024 tax year from the State Tax Commission, Oversight also organized the 2 nd , 3 rd , and 4 th class counties into salary classifications based on the assessed valuation. From this chart, Oversight assumes there could be salary increases collectively exceeding $1,845,000. Adding additional payroll taxes and workers’ compensation would yield a potential cost that could exceed $2,066,585 and Oversight will reflect this amount in the fiscal note for this proposal. Bill as a Whole Officials from the Office of the State Courts Administrator, the Department of Commerce and Insurance, the Department of Economic Development, the Department of Health and Senior Services, the Department of Social Services, the Office of the Secretary of State, Kansas City, Osceola, the Jackson County Election Board, the Kansas City Election Board, the Platte County Board of Elections, the St. Louis County Board of ElectionsSt. Louis City Board of Elections, the Clay County Auditor’s OfficePhelps County Sheriff’s OfficeCounty Employees Retirement Fund, the Office of the State Auditor State Tax Commission each assume the proposal will have no fiscal impact on their respective 4 73.742.2(4) P otential N umber of H ighest A ssessed D ifference in A djusted A ssessed Valuation C ounties* S alary S alary S alary S alary $ 8,000,000 to $40,999,999 0 $ 25,000 $ 29,000 $ 4,000 $ 0 $ 41,000,000 to $53,999,999 1 $ 25,000 $ 30,000 $ 5,000 $ 5,000 $ 54,000,000 to $65,999,999 0 $ 25,000 $ 32,000 $ 7,000 $ 0 $ 66,000,000 to $85,999,999 0 $ 25,000 $ 34,000 $ 9,000 $ 0 $ 86,000,000 to $99,999,999 3 $ 25,000 $ 36,000 $ 11,000 $ 33,000 $ 100,000,000 to $130,999,999 8 $ 25,000 $ 38,000 $ 13,000 $ 104,000 $ 131,000,000 to $159,999,999 7 $ 25,000 $ 40,000 $ 15,000 $ 105,000 $ 160,000,000 to $189,999,999 1 1 $ 25,000 $ 41,000 $ 16,000 $ 176,000 $ 190,000,000 to $249,999,999 1 2 $ 25,000 $ 41,500 $ 16,500 $ 198,000 $ 250,000,000 to $299,999,999 9 $ 25,000 $ 43,000 $ 18,000 $ 162,000 $ 300,000,000 to $449,999,999 1 4 $ 25,000 $ 45,000 $ 20,000 $ 280,000 $ 450,000,000 to $599,999,999 1 3 $ 25,000 $ 47,000 $ 22,000 $ 286,000 $ 600,000,000 to $749,999,999 1 0 $ 25,000 $ 49,000 $ 24,000 $ 240,000 $ 750,000,000 to $899,999,999 2 $ 25,000 $ 51,000 $ 26,000 $ 52,000 $ 900,000,000 to $1,049,999,999 4 $ 25,000 $ 53,000 $ 28,000 $ 112,000 $ 1,050,000,000 to 2 $ 25,000 $ 55,000 $ 30,000 $ 60,000 $ 1,200,000,000 to 1 $ 25,000 $ 57,000 $ 32,000 $ 32,000 $ 1,350,000,000 and over 0 $ 25,000 $ 59,000 $ 34,000 $ 0 9 7 $ 1,845,000 P ayroll Taxes 7 .65% $ 141,143 W orkers Comp 4 .36% $ 80,442 G rand Total $ 2,066,585 * Number of Counties were based off of the Total Assessed Valuation by County for Tax Year 2024 from the State Tax L.R. No. 0415H.03C Bill No. HCS for HB 249 Page 7 of March 18, 2025 NM:LR:OD organizations. Oversight does not have any information to the contrary. Therefore, Oversight will reflect a zero impact in the fiscal note for these agencies. In response to a previous version, officials from O’Fallon, St. Louis City and the Christian County Auditor’s Office each assumed the proposal will have no fiscal impact on their respective organizations. Oversight does not have any information to the contrary. Therefore, Oversight will reflect a zero impact in the fiscal note for these agencies. Oversight does not have any information to the contrary in §58.200. Should the sheriff’s position become vacant and the county coroner becomes acting sheriff until the position is filled, the salary of the coroner should be increased by the difference between the sheriff’s salary and the coroner’s salary. Oversight assumes this would occur on an infrequent basis and would have a minimal fiscal impact on counties. Therefore, Oversight will reflect a zero impact in the fiscal note for this section. Oversight only reflects the responses received from state agencies and political subdivisions; however, other cities, counties, county recorders, auditors, collectors, treasurers, public administrators and sheriffs were requested to respond to this proposed legislation but did not. A listing of political subdivisions included in the Missouri Legislative Information System database is available upon request. FISCAL IMPACT – State GovernmentFY 2026 (10 Mo.) FY 2027FY 2028$0$0$0FISCAL IMPACT – Local GovernmentFY 2026 (10 Mo.) FY 2027FY 2028COUNTY FUNDSCost – potential salary increases for county coroners (§§50.327 & 58.095) p. 3 $0 or up to ($1,526,000) $0 or up to ($1,526,000) $0 or up to ($1,526,000) Costs – adjustment on base schedules for county officials (§50.327.4) p. 5 $0 or (Unknown) $0 or (Unknown) $0 or (Unknown) Costs – Boone County Sheriff – potential increase in salary. (§57.317) p.5 $0 or (Unknown) $0 or (Unknown) $0 or (Unknown) L.R. No. 0415H.03C Bill No. HCS for HB 249 Page 8 of March 18, 2025 NM:LR:OD FISCAL IMPACT – Local GovernmentFY 2026 (10 Mo.) FY 2027FY 2028 Cost – Potential salary increases for public administrators (§473.742) p. 6 $0 to (Could exceed $1,722,154) $0 to (Could exceed $2,066,585) $0 to (Could exceed $2,066,585) ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON COUNTY FUNDS (Unknown, could exceed $3,248,154) (Unknown, could exceed $3,592,585) (Unknown, could exceed $3,592,585) FISCAL IMPACT – Small Business No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal. FISCAL DESCRIPTION Currently, any second class county may increase the annual compensation of a county coroner by up to $14,000 upon a majority approval of the salary commission. This bill allows any county not having a charter form of government to do this. The bill also allows the salary commission of any third class county to modify the base schedules for the computation of salaries for county officials authorized in statute, as specified in the bill. This bill allows the county auditor of first class counties to audit and examine claims of every kind for which a county officer has a fiduciary duty. Currently, statute sets the annual salary of the county sheriff in first or second class counties at 80% of the compensation of an associate circuit judge in the county. This bill exempts any first class county with more than 150,000 but fewer than 200,000 inhabitants from this provision. Upon enactment, this will apply to Boone County. This bill allows the coroner of any county not having a charter form of government to receive a salary adjustment, as specified in the bill. Currently, if the office of sheriff becomes vacant, the county coroner fills the role until a new sheriff fills the office. This bill allows the coroner to receive the same compensation as the county sheriff, rather than the county coroner, during that time. This bill provides that every public administrator who begins his or her first term on or after January 1, 2025 will receive compensation as provided in statute. The bill allows a salary commission to compensate a public administrator based on the assessed valuation schedule set in L.R. No. 0415H.03C Bill No. HCS for HB 249 Page 9 of March 18, 2025 NM:LR:OD statute. If a salary commission decides to do so, it will not change at any future time the method of compensating the public administrator. This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental space. SOURCES OF INFORMATION Department of Commerce and Insurance Office of the State Auditor Department of Economic Development Department of Health and Senior Services Department of Social Services Kansas City O’Fallon St. Louis City Jackson County Election Board Platte County Board of Elections St. Louis City Board of Elections St. Louis County Board of Elections Christian County Auditor’s Office Clay County Auditor’s Office Phelps County Sheriff’s Office County Employees Retirement Fund Office of the State Courts Administrator State Tax Commission Osceola Kansas City Election Board Office of the State Auditor Julie MorffJessica HarrisDirectorAssistant DirectorMarch 18, 2025March 18, 2025