Clerk, Collector Working To Fix Tax Issue

Crawford County Clerk Kim Gibbs and Collector Pat Schwent are working to fix a tax collection issue that affected railroads and utilities.

Gibbs brought the issue to the county commission’s attention on March 18.

Gibbs, who was appointed by former Gov. Mike Parson in January, told commissioners that her predecessor, John Martin, had entered incorrect numbers into the system last fall.

“(This) meant we did not collect enough tax money from the railroads and utilities,” Gibbs said. “The money was distributed incorrectly.”

The school districts, railroads and utilities are the only political subdivisions affected, she said.

Letters will be sent out on commission letterhead to each of the parties, along with adjusted bills. DevNet, the software used by the collector’s office, is working to adjust each bill. 

Gibbs said she is sending letters to each of the nine school districts located in Crawford County to have funds redistributed.

“It’s still a work in progress,” Schwent said, adding that it should be corrected as long as there are no issues with the railroads or utilities. She also added that it was an honest mistake by Martin, who resigned as clerk in September.

“This was not done deliberately by the previous clerk,” she said. 

Gibbs noticed an issue and questioned it, so they brought it up with attorneys, including Prosecuting Attorney David Smith.

Schwent said it’s not a “huge amount…about $50,000 or less in adjustments.” The issue must be resolved before June 30 when the school districts submit their budgets. Some of the districts were “way overpaid.”

Schwentt also said the state auditor’s office has been notified.