April 7th, 2020 Countywide Law Enforcement Ballot Question

Press Release
Contact: Taney County Commission Office 417-546-7204
Taney Co., Missouri
February 13, 2020

Countywide Law Enforcement Ballot Question
When you go vote April 7, you will find an initiative relating to Taney County Law Enforcement on
your ballot. The Taney County Sheriff’s Department, Jail, Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and Juvenile
Office would receive revenue from the proposed 3/8 cent law enforcement tax (with a 15-year sunset),
while repealing the current 1/8 cent tax.

• The passage of this ballot initiative will allow for the hiring of additional officers for countywide
patrol and additional officers for the jail. The county could offer competitive salaries in line with
neighboring law enforcement agencies to assist with hiring of quality candidates and retention of
existing officers.
• In 2019, call volume for the Sheriff’s Dept. increased to 13,436, averaging 37 calls per day, with
an average response time of almost 33 minutes. There are between 4 to 5 officers on duty at any
given time to cover the 652 square miles of the county. Additional staff will not only provide
improved safety for citizens but hopefully decrease the number and severity of injuries endured by
officers (53 over the past three years with two officers unable to return to duty).
• Jail expansion, maintenance and updates are needed. The capacity of the Taney County jail is
268 inmates with a peak population hitting capacity in the past few years.
• At the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the 10-year office caseload averaged 4,048 (810 cases per
attorney per year). Because of changes with the reporting process of cases involving the Highway
Patrol and the closure of local municipal courts we expect an exponential increase in this caseload
in the near future. Taney County needs competitive salaries to attract and retain quality employees
as well as an addition of one new Assistant Prosecutor and one new legal clerk. Technology
upgrades are necessary to support paperless systems and ensure case file storage, memory and
security.
• The Juvenile Office needs competitive salaries to attract and retain quality employees, including
new Juvenile officers and new support staff to handle the increased load. That office is currently
understaffed and facing unfunded state mandates which will raise juvenile age to 17 that could
double the amount of cases referred to the Taney Co. Juvenile office.
BALLOT QUESTION
“Shall Taney County impose a countywide sales tax of three-eighths (3/8) of one percent (1%), for a period
of fifteen (15) years for the purpose of providing law enforcement services for the county, including
providing funding to support capital improvements, equipment and operations of the Sheriff’s Department
and Jail, Prosecuting Attorney’s office and Juvenile office, and repeal the existing countywide sales tax
previously authorized for the enforcement services of one-eighth (1/8) of one (1%)?

□YES □ NO
If you are in favor of the question, place an “X” in the box opposite “YES”. If you are opposed to the
question, place an “X” in the box opposite “NO”.

Paid for by Taney County, Missouri, Mike Scofield, Presiding Commissioner,
P.O. Box 1086, Forsyth, Mo. 65653
Below are the scheduled town hall and informational meetings scheduled as of the time
of this release. Additional meetings will be posted as scheduled prior to Election Day.
1. Town Hall Meeting, Forsyth High School Performing Arts Center
Monday, February 17, 2020 6:00 PM-7:30 PM
2. Town Hall Meeting, Pointe Royale Clubhouse, Branson, Mo
Tuesday, February 18, 2020 6:00 PM-7:30 PM
3. The TCFRW - Republican Women Meeting, Pour House, Downing Street
Hollister, Mo
Thursday, February 20, 2020 6:00 PM-7:00 PM
4. Forsyth Chamber Luncheon, Forsyth Presbyterian Church
Tuesday, March 10, 2020 11:30 AM-12:30 PM
5. Town Hall Meeting, OTC Table Rock Campus, Hollister, Mo
Thursday, March 12, 6:00 PM-7:00 PM
6. Town Hall Meeting, Kirbyville Middle School
Monday, March 16, 2020 6:00 PM-7:00 PM

Paid for by Taney County, Missouri, Mike Scofield, Presiding Commissioner,
P.O. Box 1086, Forsyth, Mo. 65653