The Missouri Association of Counties is a nonprofit corporation founded in 1972 with the stated goal to provide assistance to its member counties in matters pertaining to local, state, and federal government activities.
“MAC shall promote county interests, support best practices, and provide services to ensure fair, effective, efficient government for the good of all counties and taxpayers,” according to their stated mission found on mocounties.com.
According to their vision statement, they will be “a highly interactive service provider to all county officials and other government entities offering lobbying, insurance programs, education, research, grant development and consulting services resulting in [their] ability to affect public policy to the greatest benefit of county government.”
One of the chief services that MAC provides is as a lobbying alliance that represents county governments across Missouri. All 114 counties in Missouri are members, which includes more than 1,400 elected county officials, including presiding and associate commissioners, county clerks/election authorities, recorders, auditors, collectors, prosecutors, sheriffs, assessors, treasurers, public administrators, circuit clerks, and coroners.
Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles, District One Commissioner Wes Mobray, District Two Commissioner Gary Larson, County Clerk Angie Curley (president of the County Clerk’s Association) and County Treasurer Denita Williams (president of the County Treasurer’s Association) all attended the 50th MAC annual conference expo Nov. 21–Nov. 23.
MAC is governed by a diverse Board of Directors, and according to Skiles, commissioners, treasurers, clerks and other county officials serve on the board.
During this year’s conference, Skiles completed his year as executive director for MAC.
“Steve Hobbs (of Audrain County) is the new director,” said Skiles. “I think he’ll do a good job.”
Hobbs already served as vice, second-vice, secretary, and treasurer for the board.
“That’s pretty well the way succession goes,” said Skiles. “You’re voted in as treasurer,” he said, then an official moves up each year until they’ve completed five years of service.
Skiles said that he’s glad to have served in that capacity, but he’s also glad to serve on the executive board as a member.
The annual meeting accomplishes a few things. The first being education. County officials get to attend seminars and lectures on various topics so they can better do their jobs on behalf of their constituents.
The second being networking. They get to rub elbows and share concerns with officials from other counties throughout the state.
The third and most important element of gathering together is setting their lobbying focus for the following legislative session.
This year MAC approved 10 resolutions for 2022.
First, a resolution in support of fully funding state mandates—the resolution addresses the concerns of county officials regarding some state mandated services that counties must provide by state statute either without state funding or with less state funding than MAC member county governments think appropriate.
Second, MAC stands in opposition to preemption of local authority. The resolution addresses county officials’ opposition to the “erosion of local authority”. According to the resolution, “the Missouri General Assembly should not be forced to “micro-manage” county government from Jefferson City due to the lack of local authority to deal with local issues.”
Third, MAC stands in opposition to legislation that erodes the local tax base. MAC supports changes in legislation that standardizes the local assessment of power generation and transmission, which includes alternative sources of energy (wind, solar, etc.), regardless of ownership with all related tax revenues to be taxed and distributed at the local level.”
Fourth, a resolution in support of the full repeal of the prevailing-wage law in Missouri—the federal government enacted the Davis-Bacon Act in 1931, which established the requirement for paying the local prevailing wage on public works projects. This resolution states that “local contractors may not be able to bid on public work projects in their area because they may not be able to comply with state law which requires them to pay the prevailing wage, leading to a lack of competitiveness in the bidding process that can drive up the costs on projects and put a strain on the budgets of local governments.”
Fifth, a resolution in support of the expansion of financial statement publishing options for counties in the state of Missouri—annually Section 50.800 RSMo., calls for county commissions, on or before the first Monday in March, to prepare and publish their annual financial statement in some newspaper as defined by state law or in 10 places within said county. The resolution cites that the Associated Press in 2019, in conjunction with the University of North Carolina, analyzed data and reports more than 1,400 towns and cities in the United States have lost a local newspaper over the past 15 years.
“Posting county financial statement information on the internet can reach many more voters than any bulletin board in the county courthouse,” states the resolution. “Expanding the posting options available to county governments, to include a designated county website or news website, to Missouri counties will ensure more citizens have access to county financial data.”
Sixth, a resolution in support of elimination of changing the date of the presidential preference primary election in Missouri while maintaining the independence of the April general election—this resolution opposes any legislation that would remove the April election.
Seventh, a resolution in support of restoring the ability of third-class county salary commissions to amend the base schedule of county officials to include assessed valuation factors in excess of $300 million.
Eighth, a resolution to ensure the participation of county governments in the development and implementation of broadband expansion efforts—the resolution states the following.
“Now, therefore, be it resolved, that Missouri Association of Counties urges the General Assembly, Congress and involve state and federal agencies to commit to the inclusion and engagement of MAC members in the earliest phases of the strategic planning and expansion of broadband services and access.
Ninth, a resolution in support of empowering counties to be active in the deployment and operation of high-speed internet. Local governments in many states are prohibited from being active participants in the deployment of these services. MAC supports the removal of barriers to counties supplying infrastructure to the private sector, partnering with the private sector or operating internet services as a public utility when no commercial service is available.
To learn more about MAC, visit mocounties.com.
