Platte County Touts Favorable Outcome Against Missouri Tax Commish

We can't claim insider knowledge with this this one but people we trust sent this our way, TKC read it and agrees that it deserves consideration . . . First . . . Perspective on the behind the scenes of the decision . . . And then . . . The press release from the KC metro county . . . Check-it . . . 

Tale of Competence and Clowns

Let’s talk about leadership—the type that works for people and the non-existent kind.  Platte County, where commissioners are proving they actually know how to govern, is an example of the former.  

An example of non-existent leadership is Jackson County, where the politicians govern like they’re auditioning for a circus act, stumbling over their egos while taxpayers suffer. The contrast couldn’t be starker, and the recent deal Platte County secured with the Missouri State Tax Commission (STC) is a blazing neon sign of who’s getting it right.

Platte County led by Presiding Commissioner Scott Fricker, just pulled off a masterclass in negotiation. Facing a draconian 15% property value hike mandated by the STC, they didn’t just roll over like spineless opportunists. No, they fought tooth and nail, securing a Memorandum of Understanding that slashed the increase to a far more reasonable 6.835%. 

This isn’t just a win; it’s a lifeline for taxpayers already stretched thin. Fricker showed what it looks like when elected officials actually care about their constituents.  They hired outside counsel, dug in, and delivered a deal that aligns with real-world home price trends—7.75% annually from 2019 to 2024—while shielding residents from the STC’s heavy-handed overreach.

Meanwhile, Jackson County’s so-called leaders are busy tripping over their own incompetence. Their property tax assessment process is a chaotic mess, riddled with errors and inflated valuations that have residents fuming, and hurting financially. While Platte County was out there negotiating like adults, Jackson County’s politicians were too busy pointing fingers and dodging accountability, behaving worse than five-year-olds eating their body weight in sugar and Red Dye 40. Their assessments are so wildly inconsistent and homeowners are getting slapped with bills that make no sense.  Instead of fighting for fairness, Jackson County’s officials are hiding behind excuses and bureaucratic jargon. It’s pathetic. It should be criminal.

Platte County’s team didn’t just stop at securing a better deal. They’re calling out the broken system that let this mess happen in the first place. Fricker’s already looking ahead, pushing for legislative reforms to fix Missouri’s outdated, arbitrary property tax framework. That’s vision. That’s leadership. Compare that to Jackson County, where the politicians are content to let taxpayers drown in unfair assessments while they bicker over who gets the best office chair. Jax Co. politicos are so busy playing political musical chairs they fail to notice their residents are fed up. It’s a disgrace.

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Press Release: Platte County Secures Favorable Agreement with Missouri State Tax Commission

Platte City, MO – August 20, 2025 – Today, Platte County Clerk Jera Pruitt and Board of Equalization Chair Lee Ann Fadler signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Missouri State Tax Commission (STC), finalizing a negotiated agreement that requires the County to raise all residential property values 6.835% over the 2024 assessed values.

This modest increase aligns more closely with actual home price increases, which were roughly 7.75% per year from 2019 through 2024 and represents a significant reduction from the STC’s original order on July 30, which mandated a 15% across-the-board increase.

“This agreement is a clear victory for Platte County taxpayers, as it substantially reduces the financial impact of the STC’s initial directive,” Presiding Commissioner Scott Fricker stated. “With very little leverage and very little time, we were able to secure a better deal for Platte County taxpayers that reflects more realistic property value increases.”However, the imposed valuation increase circumvents the traditional data-driven assessment process used by Missouri assessors for decades, replacing it with arbitrary valuations dictated by the STC that impact all property owners regardless of the actual increase in individual property values.

Commissioner Fricker and the County Commission, with support from other county officials and the BOE, engaged outside counsel and led negotiations with the STC to arrive at this agreement. Their efforts secured a compromise that protects taxpayers from a more difficult financial burden.

Commissioner Fricker added, “While we’re pleased with this outcome, we’re deeply troubled by the way property tax assessment oversight is handled at the state level. We believe voters should have the authority to judge whether elected officials are serving the community effectively and then make their opinions known at the ballot box. So we now turn our attention to working with the Governor and our state legislators to enact meaningful reforms to the property tax assessment and oversight process, ensuring a fairer and more transparent framework for all Missourians. At the end of the day, Missouri needs a consistent, predictable property tax system that doesn’t price people out of their homes.”

Platte County remains committed to advocating for its residents and navigating complex state mandates while pushing for lasting legislative solutions.
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Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Fox4: Platte County property values increasing with new STC agreement

KSHB: Battle between Platte County officials and Missouri State Tax Commission ended Tuesday with an agreement

Developing . . .