Both the Saline County Commission and Saline County E-911 Board have issued statements addressing their positions in the lawsuit filed earlier this month in Saline County.
The lawsuit filed by E-911 boards from Saline, Carroll, Putnam and Stone counties against their county commissions asks the court to grant the boards a share of their county’s use tax collections, citing a recent change in state law. In a written statement to KMMO News, Saline County E-911 board president John Fletcher says that the board’s intent is, “not conflict, but compliance,” accusing the county commission of retaining in general revenue what the board believes should be allocated to the county’s emergency dispatch services. The board argues that the law changed by Senate Bill 271 requires that any use tax collected based on Saline County’s half-cent sales tax for emergency dispatch services, which voters approved in November 2006, must be passed onto the county’s board.
In their statement to KMMO News this week, the Saline County Commission says that the use tax approved in 2012 by voters mentioned in the ballot language that all use tax collected would go to general revenue. Commissioners argue that Senate Bill 271 requires any use tax collected for E-911 services to go before a separate vote of the people, and that the board’s lawsuit seeks to bypass what voters have approved.
The lawsuit filed in Saline County Circuit Court is an updated suit that had been filed in Cole County last November by by emergency services boards from Putnam and Washington counties. Both attorneys—Frank Flaspohler for the E-911 boards and Ivan Schrader for the commissions of Carroll, Putnam, and Saline counties—have filed separate motions for dismissal of the case in Cole County, which will put the focus on the case in Saline County. A hearing on the case in Saline County remains pending.
Public Statements From The Saline County E-911 Board
First statement issued Jan. 8, via Facebook:
Second statement issued Jan. 14
The Saline County 911 Emergency Services Board is issuing this statement to clarify how “Use Tax” funds should be distributed. Contrary to claims that the 911 Board is trying to redirect “all county use tax revenues”, we are seeking only the specific portion of the funds that is based on the 911 sales tax.
Currently, the Saline County Commission continues to collect the use tax that is based on the 911 sales tax. However, instead of passing those specific funds to the 911 center, they are keeping the money. The Commission insists that the 911 center should hold an election to approve a tax that is already in place and already being collected.
The law is clear. Missouri Statute Section 144.757 directs that if a county collects use taxes based on a 911 sales tax, those funds must be paid to 911 centers. This is not a request for a new tax; it is a request to follow the law regarding money that is already being paid by taxpayers.
We are not alone in this situation. Several other counties are involved in litigation to enforce this law. Furthermore, many other county commissions across Missouri have already agreed to follow the law as written. These commissions are ensuring that funds based on the 911 sales tax are paid to their local 911 centers without needing a lawsuit.
While the Commission states that the Use Tax was originally designated for General Revenue, the law provides specific direction regarding the 911 portion. No 911 center is asking to take all revenue, but we are asking that the County stop keeping the specific funds meant for emergency services.
Public Statement from the Saline County Commission
Released Jan. 14 and posted as formatted
In April 2012, Saline County voters approved a countywide Use Tax designated to General Revenue. This tax was presented clearly on the ballot and, by law at that time, carried no requirement to distribute proceeds to any other entity, including E911. The Use Tax was adopted to sustain essential county operations such as employee salaries, Courts, Juvenile, courthouse and facility maintenance, public infrastructure, and Sheriff’s Department operations—over $1 million annually from General Revenue. Some E911 board member(s) are themselves county employees whose positions have been supported through these funds. Sometime after, the City of Marshall passed the USE tax as well.
Separately, in November 2006, Saline County voters approved a ½-cent sales tax dedicated exclusively to E911 services. E911 continues to receive this voter-approved, dedicated funding source.
On August 28, 2025, Missouri Senate Bill 271 took effect. This law clearly states that for a local entity to receive use tax revenue in the same proportion as sales tax revenue, the question must be submitted to and approved by voters. SB 271 provides a specific ballot mechanism for doing so. The E911 Board has the legal authority to pursue voter approval for its own use tax but has not done so. The vote has to be done to be in compliance with state statute.
Instead, E911 boards statewide—including Saline County’s—have filed lawsuits: instructing the Missouri Department of Revenue seeking to bypass the voter-approval process established in SB 271. The lawsuit seeks to redirect all county use tax revenues directly to E911—despite the fact that E911 is an independent entity not operated or controlled by the County Commission and already receives its own dedicated sales tax.
This legal action asks the Department of Revenue to transfer voter-approved county funds to E911 without a ballot question and without county voter approval, and contrary to state law.
The Saline County Commission remains committed to a lawful resolution that respects voters, follows Missouri statute, and prioritizes the needs of all Saline County citizens. We remain dedicated to maintaining a fully operational county government while supporting modern, efficient emergency services, law enforcement, courts, and public infrastructure that serve residents and visitors alike.