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Newton County Assessor defends decision not to raise property tax valuations
Newton County Assessor Cheryle Perkins is defending her decision to reject the Missouri State Tax Commission’s request to raise property tax valuation by 12%, maintaining county currently at 77-80% of market value.
Listen to the full interview or read more below:
The state currently mandates counties keep property values within 90-110% of market value; 80 of 114 assessors have signed MoUs requiring similar increases of 12-15%.
Perkins told Newstalk KZRG that COVID-19 impacted property market values, leading to an unsustainable increase that the county aims to avoid to minimize resident financial burdens.
Newton County faces a loss of $108,000 in state reimbursement funds for 2026 due to its refusal to sign the MoU, affecting operational expenses.
The state is threatening further action, including Board of Equalization intervention and possible removal of Perkins by the Attorney General.
She says Newton County’s position differs from many others, as they have the financial independence to stand against state mandates, unlike more vulnerable counties.