HERMANN — A state legislator who represents Gasconade County last Thursday morning told the County Commission that the passage of Senate Bill 3 — a controversial bill granting property-tax relief to homeowners — was a result of the many calls state lawmakers receive from constituents.

Senate Bill 3 (SB3), which was attached to a larger bill aimed at providing tax support for a new football stadium in Kansas City, was signed into law by Gov. Mike Kehoe. The tax-relief proposal, which will be on the April 7 ballot, raises many concerns among county government officials statewide. Those concerns were at the heart of the meeting last week between State Rep. Bruce Sassmann, R-Bland, and the County Commission.

“We are concerned about SB3, as are many others,” said Presiding Commissioner Tim Schulte, R-Hermann. “I hope you have some fixes coming up this session to help us out,” he added.

But, according to Sassmann, that apparently isn’t the case, at least not yet as state legislators prepare to convene early next month for the 2026 session of the Missouri General Assembly. In response to a question from the Gasconade County Republican, Sassmann said there is no specific fix being discussed, at this point, among the lawmakers as to how to replace the revenue that would be lost if SB3 is approved by voters.

It should be noted that the law is being challenged in court as to it being constitutional because it would treat counties differently; primarily, some counties would be approved for a percentage of growth in assessed property values while others would be granted no percentage of growth.

The law, which appears to supplant Senate Bill 190, a measure passed two years ago aimed at giving property tax relief to homeowners 62 and older, would apply to all homeowners and sets the property tax bill at the 2024 level. Local government entities such as school districts, ambulance districts, county governments and others that rely on property tax revenue say the move would hurt them financially, forcing them to pare their operations to make up for the loss of funds.

Sassmann said the passage of the legislation was lawmakers reacting to what their constituents have been asking for.

“The number-one email I get is to cut taxes, especially this time of year when people get their tax bills,” he said.

County Assessor Julia Baker’s recent analysis of the law’s potential affect on local public agencies shows the loss of a significant amount of revenue, especially for school districts — which receive the lion’s share of property tax dollars and would bear the brunt of the revenue loss.

Baker asked Sassmann how the story of the law can best be told from local government’s standpoint in the state capitol. How do we change the narrative at the state level?” she asked.

“My response to these emails is to ask ‘Do you know who you pay your taxes to?’” Sassmann said.

He was making the point that was voiced earlier by Southern District Associate Commissioner Ron Hardecke, R-Owensville, who noted, “People still want the stuff (government services); they just don’t want to pay for it.”

Hardecke also voices the concern that the loss of revenue from property taxes on homes will possibly be made up by higher taxes on other properties.

“If you get rid of the property tax, then it goes to real estate” such as higher assessments on agricultural land.

Sassmann said a key to county officials having their voices heard and considered on issues such as this to become more involved in the process, such as attending the legislative committees’ public hearings on bills.

“Everybody has to participate. MAC (Missouri Association of Counties) has to participate. You need to participate,” he said.

Indeed, Gasconade County officials, as well as their counterparts statewide, have been critical that MAC — the primary voice for county government in the halls of the state capitol — did not do a good job monitoring the movement of SB3 through the legislative process.

Mindful of that concern, MAC officials have stressed greater involvement directly by county officials.

“That was a big focus at the MAC Conference — for us to get involved,” said Hardecke. He was referring to the annual conference of county government officials held recently at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Pre-filing of bills for the 2026 session of the General Assembly began Dec. 1. Sassmann said he expects many hundreds of bills to be filed, many of which will likely deal with taxes of one sort or another. Baker said county officials need to closely monitor the pre-filing of bills to have an idea of the legislation that will affect local government.

“I guess we need to check in daily?” she asked.

“Really, you do,” Sassmann said. “That’s why MAC is important,” he added.

Sassmann voted for SB3, as well as SB190 — not necessarily because he supported the legislation, but, as he admitted to stay in the good graces of the Republican Caucus of the Missouri House of Representatives, which did support the bills.

“I probably voted with the Caucus on those,” he said, noting that in an earlier session he lost a committee chairmanship by voting against the Caucus position on a bill.