(The Center Square) – Jackson County leaders predicted higher taxes and litigation on Monday due to last week’s ruling by the Missouri State Tax Commission and the subsequent dismissal of a lawsuit.
Last week, the commission ordered the county to roll back 2023 property tax assessment values due to errors made by the county’s assessment department. The order came before the final day of a trial in a lawsuit filed last year by Missouri Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey. After the order, the judge granted Bailey’s request to dismiss the case.
“They provided testimony and there was nothing… it was all based on social media,” Jackson County Counselor Bryan Covinsky said. “It wasn’t working and they knew they were losing.”
Democratic County Executive Frank White said Bailey’s actions will harm taxpayers and the county hasn’t lost a lawsuit regarding property taxes in its last “seven or eight” cases.
“Let’s not forget Attorney General Bailey dismissed the lawsuit the day after his election because he was afraid to answer questions under oath,” White said, referring to a scheduled deposition of Bailey regarding possible ethics violations for conversations he had with a Republican county legislator running for Congress. “He knew he was losing this case. This is not the first time the attorney general’s office has been used for political reasons that confuse and mislead taxpayers at someone else’s expense.”