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Audits show ongoing municipal reform

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Late Auditor Tom Schweich announced his municipal courts initiative in October 2014. Just over a year later, the Missouri legislature passed SB 5, capping revenue municipalities could collect from tickets and now seeing a second proposal from SB 5’s sponsor to further limit revenue received from municipal violations.

Galloway
Galloway

Tuesday, Auditor Nicole Galloway released audits on two of the ten cities targeted by Schweich’s initiative: St. Ann and Foristell.

St. Ann received a “good” rating from the audit, but it was highlighted that they were unlawfully collecting bond fees, which is not authorized by state law. The city collected approximately $38,000 in those fees.

Foristell also raised eyebrows in their audit for also collecting fees unlawfully, but also received a “good” rating. The audit report notes that courts previously assessed two potentially improper fees, but the city discontinued both fees after auditors raised concerns.

Schmitt
Schmitt

“My office’s audits are designed to identify problems and offer solutions that improve government operations for citizens,” Auditor Galloway said. “In this case, the process worked like it should. My office raised this issue, and local officials took immediate action to end collection of these questionable fees.”

The Foristell court previously collected warrant fees without statutory authority. The court also assessed fees when defendants failed to appear in court, without filing any additional related charges. In other words, the court was assessing a fee for something the defendant had not been charged with.

“The audits confirms what we have known for a long time: these municipalities are treating citizens like ATMs to fund their bloated budgets and they are especially hurting the poor and disadvantaged,” said SB 5 sponsor Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale. “We enacted reform this year to stop traffic ticket schemes and now we are focusing on ending their latest taxation by citation scheme: ridiculous fines for things like the location of a barbecue grill. Positive change is here and more change is coming.”