Dear friend of Platte County!

It’s hard to believe that half of 2017 is behind us.   Platte County has now received half of its tax collections for 2017 and I am pleased that we held the line against inflated revenue projects in our budget.  Year-to-date, the County’s total sales and use tax receipts are up only 1.39% from last year’s year-to-date totals.  Conservative revenue projections just make sense - they help to minimize taxpayers’ exposure to economic slowdowns, maximize the opportunity for a cash carryover, and aid in controlling expenditure growth.  With the 2018 budget process starting soon, we will continue to keep this budget principle in mind.

Personnel Changes
The County’s org chart is morphing a bit to better align priorities and improve efficiency.  This has been done by taking advantage of attrition and staffing reductions, and giving salary bumps for select employees with increased responsibilities, yet with a significant overall personnel expense savings.  Another personnel issue on our immediate plates is long-overdue performance appraisals for our department heads - for the first time in over a decade, in some cases.

Increasing Transparency
We continue to increase transparency with your County government.  In addition to the commission’s administrative sessions’ agendas now being posted online with links to the supporting documents, the audio of each session, starting in January of 2017, is now available free of charge.  These increases in transparency were done at no additional cost to taxpayers and with the enthusiastic support and leadership of County Clerk Nancy Armstrong and her creative and helpful staff.   You may access these at the County’s website by clicking on “Commission Calendar & Session Items” here:  http://www.co.platte.mo.us/#intro.  It has been an absolute pleasure working with “can-do” people who are always cognizant that these are your dollars they are stewarding.

Coffee with the Commissioners
Finally, your commission continues to be proactive in making ourselves available to you on a regular basis via our open “Coffee with the Commissioners” meetings at various breakfast establishments around Platte County on Friday mornings.  You can check out future coffees online by clicking on our commission calendar.  Our next one will be this Friday, July 14th at 8 AM at the Roxanne’s in Parkville.  Come on out and break biscuits with us.  No RSVPs required.

Enjoy your summer!

Dagmar Wood
Platte County, Missouri
Commissioner, 1st District