Tech Trends

Taney County Assessor James Strahan wrote the following opt-in:

County Commissioners actions support higher property tax issues

Could this be why they want to erase old County Commission minutes?

There are County Commission minutes dating back into 2006 that have not been approved by the County Commission. During last Tuesdays commission meeting, Commissioner Ron Herschend commented it had been so long, How did he know what was written was n fact, what he said? Wait a minute, hold your horses, I don’t believe it to be any coincidence at all, that many of the unapproved sets of minutes happen to pertain to very sensitive issues that could affect the loves of Taney County Citizens.

One prime example is the still unapproved minutes from November 26^th and December 4^th of 2006. In an email /memo from Presiding Commissioner Chuck Pennel to one of his staff members, Commissioner Pennell outlines his true feelings regarding taxes within Taney County. Commissioner Pennel later read his email/memo at a commission meeting and into the commission minutes of December 4, 2006. Commissioner Pennel’s email/memo and other comments contained within the minutes from December 4^th clearly state, “I can’t support James Strahan in his battle with the Missouri’s State Tax Commission.” Commissioner Pennel went on to state and I quote, “It would be possible for the assessed value of property say in the Bradleyville of Branson School Districts to go up by 30 percent, yet taxes in those districts to remain the same by the levy assessed by their respective boards.”

Early in March 2007 the Assessor set a 2.02 index establishing a 6 percent increase to structures. This action, based on statistics would bring Taney County compliant to its 2006 and 2007 maintenance plan and would establish fairness throughout the county. These values were established in early March 2007 and the Assessor’s book closed on May 15, 2007.

During the 2007 Taney County Board of Equalization Taney County Commissioner Chuck Pennel vigorously battled for lower assessed values for specific friends and individuals. Immediately following the Board of Equalization, Commissioner Pennel constantly supported an additional 15 to 30 percent increase equating an approximate $3,000,000 to $10,000,000 increase to the citizens of Taney County. Commissioner Pennel and Commissioner Herschend decided not to fund the Assessor’s office and would send the employees home cutting services to the citizens of Taney County id the Assessor did not cut a deal.

Commissioner Pennel based some of this information on a private appraisal paid for by the Missouri State Tax Commission. This private appraisal was run on individual properties in Taney County. The appraisal was agreed and put into motion by Representative Dennis Woods.

Late in August, Commissioner Pennel had contacted the State Tax Commission without notifying the attorneys representing both the County Assessor and the County Commission. Commissioner Pennell was in total agreement with an additional 15 percent increase recommended by the State Tax Commission as being a good thing for Taney County.

Commissioner Pennel and Commissioner Herschend then moved the deadline of September 15^th to October 15^th for the Assessor to settle the lawsuit of they would cut funding., thus sending employees home. When questioned on these issues, Commissioner Herschend then went to the the radio station and tried to censor the taxation message. The 2.02 index was implemented in March. There have been no deals cut with the State Tax Commission by the County Assessor.

Commissioner Pennel’s statements of no increase in taxes due to higher assessments is FALSE and MISLEADING to the public and could lead to approcimate $5,000,000 increase in taxes throughout Taney County.

As the public is aware, I have been involved in a nasty dispute with the Missouri State Tax Commission regarding the assessed valuations of Taney County property. I believed the valuations within the county to be fair, equitable, an in compliance with the 2006-2007 maintenance plan signed by the Tax Commission, the Taney County Commission and myself. The Tax Commission wanted the index to be raised, the means extremely higher valuations. When Commissioner Pennel took the side of the Tax Commission, he took a percoan l stand against Taney County Taxpayers. Rest assured, the index has not been increased to the amount the Commissioner Pennel, Representative Dennis Woods and the State Tax Commission wanted to see.

As I have contended all along, higher valuations will result in higher taxes. Commissioner Pennel has publicly stated that higher valuations do not have to mean higher taxes. Please compare your 2006 tax statement when you get your 2007 tax statement and determine if Commissioner Pennel is correct.

If Commissioner Pennel, Representateive Woods and the Tax Commission are successful, we see yet another major tax increase in 2008. Representative Woods was cussessful in passing new legislation which removed your local assessor for the Board of Equalization. I no longer have a vote to prevent the Board of Equalization for granting the Tax commission another hike in valuations.

A little known fact: The County Board of Equalization must annually sighn off on every single valuation within the county. Commissioner Pennel seems to have forgotten that he closed the books each year with his written approval. My questions, simply state are: How can Commissioner Pennel be pushing for yet another increase? What deals has he cut with the State Tax Commission?

I am asking the public to demand that Commissioner Herschend and Commissioner Pennel not be allowed to destroy public documents that contain such telling information.

I James E Strahan, Assessor of Taney County, will od everything under my power to keep assessments fair and equitable to the Citizens of Taney County.

I am not a PUPPET to the state, Taney County Presiding Commissioner Chuck Pennel, Taney County Western Commissioner Ron Herschend or Representative Dennis Woods. .