The Citizens were OVER TAXED by more than $140K!

In 2014, the voters approved a bond for $850,000 to buy a Pumper Truck and related equipment.  

What is a bond?  Simple terms- it is a loan authorized by the voters to purchase what is requested on the ballot.  For a detailed explanation, you can read up at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  

A board member who was ALSO an Elected Director caused all of the taxpayers to be OVER TAXED by submitting the wrong data to the MO State Auditor's office.     

The District collected MORE THAN $140K than the $850K the voters approved in 2014!

How was this allowed to happen?  That's a great question!  The MO State Auditor's office states that they ONLY check for compliance with levies that fall under compliance of the MO statutes.  Further, they state that it is up to the individual governing entities to ensure they are properly taxing their citizens to repay the bond.     

The Board of Directors passed a Resolution to refund the taxpayers on July 20, 2022 and could have refunded the tax payers by temporarily reducing the tax levy but refused to do so even without rescinding the July 20, 2022 resolution.

The District hired consultant Monte Olsen to help the District with numerous issues.  One of them was to calculate the amount the taxpayers had been overtaxed.  His calculation was WRONG!  Per the MO STATE AUDITOR Annual Tax Rate Reports, the amount the taxpayers were overtaxed was GREATER than $140K!!!

Again, HOW is this allowed to happen?  We would like to know also.  Political subdivisions have a number of laws they are required to follow per the MO State Constitution, but there are no governing bodies at the State or County level that have been willing to step in and investigate!

Now, the Western Cass Fire Protection wants up to a 130% tax increase that would take their 2024 budget of $245,275 to MORE than $564,000!!!

The board can't be trusted with the taxpayer money they have now.  How can they be trusted with MORE taxpayer money????