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Clay County Constitutional Review Commission approves proposed amendments for ballot after debate over sheriff pay
Summary
The commission voted unanimously to send a package of proposed amendments—including changes to appointment authority, county administrator powers and fixed salary language for the prosecutor and sheriff—to the ballot, after a debate over whether to raise the sheriff's pay to circuit judge level.
The Clay County Constitutional Review Commission voted to approve a package of proposed amendments to the county constitution and to forward the ballot language to the county commission and election board after a roll-call vote during its meeting on May 20, 2026.
The amendments would, among other changes, require a general election even when only one candidate files for an office, transfer appointment authority for county boards and commissions from the presiding commissioner to the full commission (worded in the ballot language as "nominate"), expand county administrator powers (changing the term "sign" to "execute" in one provision), allow the commission to call special meetings, permit commissioners to receive benefits available to other county employees, set the prosecuting attorney's salary equal to that of a Missouri circuit judge, and set the sheriff's salary equal to that of an associate circuit judge.
Commissioner Jay Johnson, who identified himself during the meeting as a Clay County commissioner, made an extended plea for a larger increase in the sheriff's salary, urging the panel to set the sheriff's pay at the circuit court judge level rather than the associate circuit judge level. "It's $12,000; it's nothing in our budget," Johnson said, arguing the higher base would improve recruitment and better reflect the role's responsibilities. He emphasized the appeal was intended to benefit the office and future occupants rather than the current sheriff.
Other commissioners raised procedural and practical concerns. Some said Missouri statute 57.317—cited by a state senator as relevant—appears targeted at non-charter counties and likely does not apply to Clay County, but agreed staff should investigate to be certain. Commissioners also debated whether ballot shorthand should use the word "appoint" or "nominate," settling on keeping "nominate" in brief ballot wording while using "nominate and approve" in the revised body text so the process remains clear.
Despite the split over the sheriff's pay level, the commission moved to adopt the full draft and put it on the ballot. The clerk called the roll and the following commissioners voted "Aye": Scott Lakin, Bryant DeLong, Don Kramer, Natalie Scholl, Jason Ward, James Godwin and Anthony Malonia. The motion passed and the package will be presented to the county commission next Thursday for its consideration and then delivered to the election board for inclusion on the ballot if transmitted as planned.
County staff and commission leaders thanked the review commission members for their work on the five-year review. The commission adjourned after brief closing remarks.
What happens next: If transmitted as scheduled, the county commission will receive the package next Thursday and the election board will receive the finalized ballot language the following day. Any further legal questions that could affect implementation, such as the applicability of state statute 57.317 to charter counties, were left to staff for follow-up.
