Bill Tackles Compensation For County Officials

Gov. Mike Kehoe on May 13 signed Senate Bill 1, which tackles compensation for county coroners, auditors, public administrators and the Boone County sheriff.

“I am pleased to stand behind this commonsense effort to strengthen local leadership across Missouri,” Kehoe said in a press release. “This legislation is about supporting the hard-working officials who have stepped forward to serve our communities—whether they're keeping our counties safe, providing oversight for public funds, or protecting our most vulnerable citizens. It's about giving them the tools and recognition they deserve, and ensuring the stability of local communities.”

SB 1 came as a response to a 2022 state Supreme Court ruling, which invalidated compensation laws for some county officials.

SB 1 allows county coroners to receive up to $14,000 above their base salary, with approval from the county salary commission. Coroners who temporarily serve as acting sheriffs can also be paid at the sheriff’s salary rate for the duration of that service.

Third class counties can adjust salary schedules to reflect property values above $300 million, as long as increases are applied equally to all county officials.

Crawford County is a third class county.

Public administrators starting their terms after Jan. 1, 2024 will automatically be placed on a salary system based on caseloads unless the county opts into a pay scale based on property valuations. The law clarifies that letters of guardianship and conservatorship are to be counted separately for salary purposes.