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Cole County commissioners warned sales-ratio study shows county among worst performers
Summary
Commissioners discussed state tax commission sales-ratio results showing Cole County near the bottom among larger Missouri counties and potential Board of Equalization work if the assessor's Form 11 does not show required adjustments.
Commissioners discussed the Missouri State Tax Commission’s forthcoming sales-ratio publication and reported that Cole County ranked among the worst performers in its peer group.
The discussion, by members of the Cole County Commission during their regular meeting, centered on recently completed sales-ratio studies and whether the county assessor followed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that called for adjustments in specific townships. Commissioners said the county and many of its peer first-class counties are out of compliance with state guidance and that the Board of Equalization (BOE) may have additional work when it convenes in July.
The county’s informal briefing to commissioners said the State Tax Commission will publish the sales-ratio findings soon. Commissioners described a grouping of roughly 19 larger Missouri jurisdictions used for comparison; they said 13 of those 19 jurisdictions were out of compliance. They identified Taney County and Cass County as the two worst performers and said Cole County was the third worst among that set.
Commissioners recited details of the MOU governing assessments in Cole County. According to the discussion, the MOU called for increases of up to 13% in three townships (identified by number in the assessor’s files) that contain a large share of the county’s residential parcels. The presenter said the assessor had pledged to submit a Form 11 to the State Tax Commission showing whether those adjustments were made and whether the assessor complied with the MOU. The commission expects the Form 11 to be filed by mid‑June and said the BOE process begins in July.
Commissioners noted that many other counties — including Boone, Cape Girardeau, Clay, Franklin and the City of St. Louis — are listed as noncompliant in the State Tax Commission’s review. They characterized the issue as widespread among larger Missouri assessors rather than unique to Cole County.
The commissioners did not take formal action at the meeting on the county’s assessment process. They said they would monitor the Form 11 filing and be prepared to consider orders or other steps if the State Tax Commission issues directives or if the BOE requires adjusting assessments.
For now, commissioners asked staff to keep the issue on the agenda and to notify them when the State Tax Commission’s public report is posted. They did not specify additional deadlines or require specific interim reports beyond the expected Form 11 filing and the July BOE calendar.
