Accountability to taxpayers

By Phil Cobb | February 17, 2016 |

Dan Hegeman

There are well over 3,500 political subdivisions or taxing entities in Missouri, including the state, counties, school districts, special road districts, transportation districts, community improvement districts, fire districts, ambulance districts, levy districts, and many more. Each has the authority to levy taxes within its jurisdiction.

To ensure the laws of the state are being followed and that the taxes collected are being used appropriately and for their express purpose, the state of Missouri audits these subdivisions through the state auditor’s office.

This oversight and accountability is critical, as the audit process serves to bring to light any waste, fraud, or abuse.

Without the ability for the state to conduct an audit, taxpayers have no mechanism of knowing if these funds — paid with their hard-earned money — are being used in a fiscally responsible way.

Unfortunately, it’s been discovered there are a handful of political subdivisions that the state auditor is currently unable to audit, either through statute or by initiative petition. This poses a serious problem as taxpayers have no ability to maintain oversight and determine if these subdivisions are spending taxpayer dollars wisely and efficiently.

In response, I’m working with the auditor’s office and have sponsored Senate Bill 1002 to fix this gap in the law.

This measure would guarantee that these entities can be audited, and maintain accountability for the taxpayers. The taxpayers who fund their government, no matter at what level or for what specialized purpose, should know that their money is being spent in accordance with the law and it is not being abused or misspent.

It is a simple and basic task of good government to ensure that entities that have the power to tax, which is an immense power, are answerable to the taxpayer. This is why we have the office of the state auditor and no political subdivision or taxing entity should be able to operate free from oversight.

I look forward to advancing SB 1002 and hope to see it on the governor’s desk before session adjourns.