At least two counties in our area will experience changes in their court houses in the near future, following notifications issued last week by the office of Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick.

According to the notification sent last week to Pettis County officeholders, Fitzpatrick said that Pettis County would become a third-class county effective Jan. 1st, 2027. Fitzpatrick cited the Western District of Missouri Court of Appeals’ decision in March 2025 in favor of Saline County Assessor Jessica Adcock Goodman against the Saline County Commission, which concluded that fourth-class counties were not perpetually exempt from reclassification. In a table provided with the notice, Fitzpatrick noted that the assessed valuations for Pettis and Lafayette counties had fallen below the threshold for five consecutive years, resulting in both being deemed third-class counties.

The table shows all four fourth-class counties being subject to reclassification. According to the table, Johnson County has attained enough valuation to continue functioning as a second-class county until at least 2030, while Saline County is also set to drop to third class. However, the auditor’s office notes that Saline County’s re-classification is “pending litigation”, as the assessor’s lawsuit remains active in Saline County Circuit Court. Fitzpatrick’s office also noted that litigation was not pending in Pettis or Lafayette counties.

The notice to Pettis County was addressed by the Saline County Commission at their session Wednesday, Mar. 11.  Northern District Commissioner Stephanie Gooden referred to the notice as, “devastating news”, noting the impacts reclassification could have on several county offices as well as the sales tax passed in November 2024 to support construction of the future location of the Marshall Public Library. County auditor Karlin Breshears acknowledged that reclassification would result in her office’s elimination at the end of the year. Breshears had filed for re-election to the position.

Meanwhile, attorney Richard Hicks, who is representing the assessor’s office in the ongoing lawsuit, told KMMO News that the notification from the state auditor’s office was not surprising at all, calling the situation unfortunate because the assessor has not received the required funding to operate her office, even after the appellate court’s ruling.

KMMO News has reached out to the Pettis County Commission and state auditor’s office for comment.