911 board asks Henry County to remit .45% use‑tax collected since Aug. 2025 under statute 144.757

A representative who said they had just come from a 911 emergency communications meeting told the Henry County Commission on June 16 that Missouri Statute 144.757 (sections 3 and 5) requires money from sales or use taxes voted for 911 to be delivered to the 911 entity. The representative said the county has been retaining the full use‑tax receipts and requested that the county remit the .45% portion collected since August 2025 and remit that portion monthly going forward.

Commissioners and staff discussed the tax history: the county passed a sales tax in 2015 to support 911 and later began collecting the associated use‑tax portion. Speakers noted villages that incorporated after that vote and the resulting complexity about who is entitled to collect which portion of the tax. The visitor said multiple 911 boards across the state have begun seeking past payments since the statute changed in 2025 and that attorneys are giving differing advice in other counties.

The commission did not make a decision on the spot. Commissioners said they want to make any change legally and correctly to avoid audits or litigation. Presiding Commissioner Jim Stone and other commissioners asked staff to consult the county attorney, gather the precise dates and amounts, CC the commissioners on the attorney correspondence and return with a timeline and legal recommendation. One commissioner suggested the county could place a ballot question if necessary while others said the state might ultimately control collection. No formal motion to remit was made at the meeting.

Next steps: staff will seek legal advice and report back to the commission; the visitor asked the board to expect an update “next week.”