Views: 0(Missouri Independent) – Missouri and Kansas residents’ utility bills may be helping to bankroll the energy sector lobbying against policies aimed at lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Federal and state rules prohibit utility companies from passing their lobbying costs on to customers through bills. But in both Kansas and Missouri, utilities like Evergy, Ameren, and […]
Tag: Tax
Missouri State Auditor releases results of Greene County audit; several recommendations made to improve controls
Views: 0An audit by State Auditor Nicole Galloway gives several recommendations to the Greene County Sheriff to improve the office’s accounting controls and procedures. In his responses, the Sheriff committed to implementing the recommendations of the audit, which gave a rating of “good.” “Audits help point out ways government officials can better serve their constituents, […]
Grundy County on track to see $500,000 in the coffers for each category of sales tax if trend continues
Views: 0With an influx of quarterly payments, Grundy County sales tax figures continue to be considerably ahead of the pace of one year ago. The report received today (Monday) shows the year-to-date sales tax collections of nearly $255,000 in each of three categories, general revenue, law enforcement, and the ambulance service. The figures are almost […]
Couple who falsely claimed to be farmers sentenced to prison in $1.1 million COVID-relief fraud
Views: 0A couple was sentenced to prison for their participation in a scheme to file four fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $1.1 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Latoya Stanley, […]
Missouri State Auditor releases audit of Stone County Collector’s office
Views: 0Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway said today her office has completed an audit of the Stone County Collector’s office. The rating given by the audit was “excellent,” the highest possible. “This audit confirms the Stone County Collector’s Office was run in an efficient and cost-effective manner,” Auditor Galloway said. “This is great news for the […]
Audio: Gas tax question up for comment on Missouri Secretary of State’s website
Views: 0The governor is expected to sign off on the gas tax increase, but an advocacy group is moving forward in trying to put the question on a general election ballot. Lawmakers approved the state’s 17-cent-a-gallon gas tax to 29.5 cents over five years, including a refund if consumers collect receipts. The increase […]
FAFSA Frenzy Summer Edition offers Missouri students help filing their free application for Federal Student Aid
Views: 0FAFSA Frenzy Summer Edition offers Missouri students last-minute help filing their Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Missouri students get a second chance at free help to complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) this summer. It’s all thanks to a series of events called the FAFSA Frenzy Summer Edition, hosted by […]
Audio: Missouri State Auditor says state ranks 49th in nation in state aid to K-12 schools
Views: 0Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway released a report that examined funding trends in K-12 education in the state. The report found Missouri ranks near the bottom for the portion of classroom funding that comes from state sources and the formula calculating per-student funding has not kept up with inflation. “The state is […]
Audio: Livingston County Steam and Gas Association to sponsor “Old-Time Harvest Days” in September
Views: 0The Livingston County Steam and Gas Association will sponsor Old-Time Harvest Days from September 24th through 26th. Steam and Gas Association Member Marie Hinnen says a different tractor is featured each year at the event at the Livingston County Fairgrounds. This year’s featured tractor will be the Massey Ferguson. Anyone with any […]
Attempts to ban teaching on ‘critical race theory’ multiply across the U.S.
Views: 1(Missouri Independent) – From statehouses to Congress, Republicans have launched into a fight against the teaching of “critical race theory,” which just a year ago was a niche academic term. Experts in critical race theory say it’s about acknowledging how racial disparities are embedded in U.S history and society, and the concept is being […]
Missouri State Treasurer joins coalition to oppose Biden Administration’s attacks on fossil fuel industry
Views: 0Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick announced he has joined a coalition of 15 State Treasurers to speak out against apparent attempts by the Biden Administration to pressure banks and other large financial institutions to divest from coal, oil, and natural gas companies. “While the pursuit of more renewable sources of energy is a noble […]
Lawmakers sponsor legislation to prevent IRS from being used as political weapon against citizens
Views: 37U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) announced that he and other lawmakers are co-sponsors of legislation to prevent the Internal Revenue Service from being used as a political weapon against American citizens. “People across Missouri are rightly concerned about the kind of government overreach and political targeting we’ve seen from the IRS in the past,” […]
Hawley pushes for amendments to Senate China bill to put american workers first, fight Beijing’s trade abuses
Views: 0U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced seven amendments to the United States Innovation and Competition Act, the Senate’s proposed legislation to increase competitiveness with China, to put American workers first, fight back against Beijing’s trade abuses, stand up for human rights, protect American national security, and crackdown on multi-billion-dollar corporations that are heavily invested in […]
Judge sentences bookkeeper who defrauded Plattsburg Special Road District
Views: 2The former secretary/treasurer of the Plattsburg Special Road District has been ordered to pay restitution of more than $100,000 for defrauding taxpayers. Ava L. Langner was sentenced on the charge of theft brought by the U.S. Attorney. After receiving a whistleblower complaint, a 2019 audit by Auditor Galloway’s office detailed how Langner defrauded the district […]
Trenton City Council approves purchase of police cars, East 28th Street Bridge proposal rejected
Views: 0The Trenton City Council took action Monday night on several topics including the adoption of three ordinances as recommended by the Trenton Utility Committee from last week. Toward the end of the council meeting, the discussion focused on what the city can do, if anything, to enforce the cleanup of property at 601 Jefferson […]
Conservation Commission approves CWD regulation changes by Missouri Department of Conservation
Views: 0The Missouri Conservation Commission recently approved proposed regulation changes from the Missouri Department of Conservation related to chronic wasting disease surveillance and management efforts. The changes were approved at the Commission’s May 21 open meeting. They add four counties to the CWD Management Zone and reinstate mandatory CWD sampling requirements. The approved MDC regulations […]
Missouri medical marijuana companies win tax relief from state lawmakers
Views: 0(Missouri Independent) – Missourians voted to legalize medical marijuana in 2018. But under federal law, growing, transporting, or selling marijuana remains a crime. Unsurprisingly, that dynamic has created a lot of headaches for the fledgling industry. One notable example: Unlike every other legal business in the state, marijuana companies are prohibited from deducting business […]
Trenton city sales taxes continue to increase during May 2021
Views: 0Trenton city sales tax receipts for May are up compared to May of 2020. The increases include general purposes by more than $9,600, capital projects over $4,800, and parks by $5,500. Receipts from the sales tax for fire department needs are up nearly $2,800 this month compared to May 2020. Income from the transportation […]
Audio: With a rich history of improving the downtown area, the Trenton Downtown Improvement Association turns 30
Views: 0May 16th marked the 30th anniversary of the start of the Trenton Downtown Improvement Association. TDIA Board Member Cathie Smith says the organization began as a partnership between a group of businessmen and the City of Trenton to get a Neighborhood Assistance Program credit grant to redo sidewalks. She considers one highlight of the […]