BOLIVAR, Mo. — Yesterday, five Missouri counties brought suit against the Missouri State Tax Commission, challenging recent property assessment hikes.

The lawsuit, filed in Polk County on Monday, Aug. 25, includes the counties of Polk, Audrain, Dekalb, Pike and Reynolds as plaintiffs.

The suit contests the Commission’s effort to raise property valuations, a move local officials argue is unfair and exceeds its authority.

The issues have arisen in the past year after the Commission sent the counties Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) if the assessed property value was not within 90-110% of the market value of the property.

Numerous counties in Missouri refused to sign the MOUs, including the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, who refused to sign the MOUs to raise residential assessments between

See Full Page