Platte County collector’s office misled court, voters on homestead tax credit

PLATTE COUNTY, Mo. (KQTV) -- Platte County’s 2026 property tax statements went out Friday without the voter-approved Homestead Property Tax Credit, and an attorney for credit supporters says the Collector’s Office deceived the court and voters to get the bills mailed first.

Voters approved the credit April 7 with 79.4% support. The County Commission identified more than 20,500 eligible homes and ordered the credit applied to 2026 bills, resetting tax bills to 2024 levels and capping annual increases at 5% or the CPI, whichever is greater.

At an Oct. 27 hearing, Collector’s attorney Lydia McEvoy told Judge Timothy J. Flook the tax book was “not due” until Oct. 31 and the Collector had nothing to act on. Records show Collector Sheila L. Palmer signed for the tax book Oct. 9, three weeks earlier.

“That was a deception by the Collector’s office,” attorney Jason Maki said. “The judge believed her and dismissed the case as premature.”

Records also show the office was printing statements before the hearing. In an Oct. 19 video, Assistant Chief Deputy Collector Holly Cayer, elected Collector on Tuesday, said the office had reviewed more than 20,500 parcels and was, “getting tax statements prepared, proofed, and printed.”

“The bills were being printed without the credit, and they knew it,” Maki said. “They deceived the court and lied to the voters to buy more time.”

State law requires statements be mailed by Dec. 1, taxes are due Dec. 31. The 2026 statements were mailed by Nov. 3.

“They rushed them out to get ahead of a court order,” Maki said. “Palmer, Cayer and the deputies are all culpable, and every one of them should be held accountable.”

The hearing transcript, the Collector’s Oct. 26 motion, the Oct. 29 order, the signed tax book abstract and the Oct. 19 video transcript are available on request.