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McDonald County adopts higher juror mileage pay after state law change
Summary
The McDonald County Commission unanimously approved a county-level adjustment to juror mileage reimbursement—raising it from $0.20 to $0.70 per mile—effective Sept. 1, 2025, following an update to RSMo 494.455. Daily juror pay remains $18.00.
The McDonald County Commission voted unanimously Aug. 20 to adopt a county adjustment to juror compensation after a briefing on a forthcoming change to state law.
Tanya Lewis informed the Commission that RSMo 494.455 will take effect Aug. 28, 2025, allowing counties to adjust juror pay for service beyond a juror's third day. Eastern Commissioner Jamey Cope proposed increasing mileage reimbursement from $0.20 to $0.70 per mile while keeping the daily juror pay at $18.00. Western Commissioner Rick Lett indicated agreement to adopt the change beginning Sept. 1, 2025. The motion was recorded as unanimously approved by the Commissioners.
Why it matters: The county's decision aligns local policy with the new state allowance and increases the reimbursement jurors receive for travel, which county officials said is intended to reduce financial burden on jurors serving lengthy trials.
Details: The county implemented the mileage change effective Sept. 1, 2025; the state statutory change is effective Aug. 28. The transcript records the approval as unanimous but does not list a mover, seconder or a roll-call vote by individual commissioner name. The Commission did not change the $18.00 daily juror pay. No additional implementation steps or budgetary source for the increased mileage were specified during the meeting.
Next steps: The county will apply the new mileage rate beginning Sept. 1, and any administrative updates to payroll or jury instructions will be handled by county staff, per the Commission's direction.
