Newton County Commission Questions & Answers

Question: Did Newton County receive a Federal Disaster Declaration from flooding?

Answer: Yes! Use the link below to register for assistance.

State of Missouri Recovery Update  unlocking additional federal funding to affected individuals and communities. The Governor’s May 24 disaster request estimated total losses and expenses of over $86M: 

Question:

What Commission meetings are open to the public?

Answer:

All County Commission meetings are open to the public.

The business meetings are generally conducted on Wednesday at 10:30 am.

The Commission office, located in the Courthouse, is open to the public 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday thru Thursday.

If a special personal time is required, the Commission will set an appointment. Call 417-451-8223.

Question:

Will barriers be in place in front of the new court's building to prevent vehicles from jumping the curb and running thru the front of the building?

Answer:

The Commission's intent is to have safety bollards located in front of the new justice building. We presently have a request pending with the City of Neosho traffic department.

Question:

How does the County Road Sales Tax work and what have been the results?

Answer:

Newton County placed a quarter-cent sales tax on the November 2011 ballot to help support the county roads and bridges system. The wording on the ballot was: “Shall the County of Newton impose a countywide sales tax at the rate of ¼ of 1% for a period of 6 (six) years from the date on which such tax is first imposed for the purpose of roads and bridges?”

Taxes to distribute formula: 50% of funds available are distributed to eight districts based on their respective miles; 50% of funds available are distributed to six districts (excluding Joplin Special Road District & Neosho Special Road District) based on their respective miles.

The projects that qualify for the Sales Tax monies are any improvement that progresses the road to a hard surface. The processes mentioned that qualify are: blade patch, chip and seal, asphalt, leveling course, any process that will involve oil as a factor, and base rock in preparation for hard surface.

There have been around 300 miles of roads surface improvements using this Sales Tax.

Question: Why did Newton County NOT close the Courthouse for Veteran’s Day in 2015?

Answer:
New Year’s Day 2015 fell on a Thursday and we polled most office holders to determine whether they would prefer that following Friday to be closed in exchange for Veterans Day. Everyone polled wanted to have New Year’s Friday off, which would give employees a 4 day weekend for families to share.

The Commission considers it our responsibility and concern to serve the residents of the County consistently. We were open on Veteran’s Day 2015, as were the schools and most businesses and busy serving people in the courthouse taking care of business. The Courthouse did hold a ceremony in the vestibule to honor local Veterans.

Twelve closures a year to celebrate holidays, cost taxpayers approximately $300,000 per year (approximately $25,000 per day). This is an employee benefit we are pleased to be able to offer.

In 2016, the Courthouse will again be closed for Veterans Day,
however; an event honoring Veterans will also be held that week.

The Commission had been asked a question; what control does the County Commission have over the SB 40 Board?

The answer is simple; none.

The only responsibility granted by state statute to the Commission is to appoint members to the board when there is a vacancy. The County Commission has absolutely no authority over the granting or expenditure of funding associated with the SB 40 Board. Those decisions are made solely by the members of the SB 40 Board.

Senate Bill 40 boards are legal county boards for developmentally disabled adults founded by Mentally Re****ed Citizens of Missouri (MRC) in 1965.
Services provided can include transportation, sheltered workshops, residential facilities, vocational and other related programs and services.

The tax levy varies in different counties depending on the ballot language as approved by voters. In Newton County the levy is .0598%.

SB 40 funds are collected at the end of the year when you pay your real estate and personal property taxes and then dispensed by the County Collector. RSMo 205.968