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"There are a lot of people who feel we don't have the right," said Isgriggs. "It's an elected office and we need to back these people's decision. I think we are moving too fast on this. . . I think it is a blow to the citizens of Union."
City officials agreed to contract with the county to collect city taxes as a cost-saving measure. The county would charge about $18,000, plus some additional charges, to collect city taxes. The current collector's salary, benefits and payments to the city's insurance provider total over $60,000.
"It would force her into a solid retirement," added Isgriggs. "Several people have had dealings with her (Dowil) but she has done her job to the book."
Dowil questioned why the board made the decision without first seeking voter approval.
"Why don't you take it to the voters?" she asked. "I just don't understand why the board thinks the citizens aren't capable of making the decision.
"It should be their decision. They elected you to represent them and by doing it like this you are undercutting voters and saying they are not intelligent enough to make that decision."
Last month, Dowil asked the city's personnel and finance committee to not go through "the backdoor" and lower the collector's salary to make the position undesirable for a candidate.
The city can set the salary for the collector, however eliminating the elected position must appear on the ballot and be approved by Union residents.
"I don't think this has anything to do with voters," said Alderman Don Wurdack. "Our job and responsibility is to run the city as cost-effective as we can - that is what voters put us in office to do."
He added that the collector would no longer have duties because tax collection would be the responsibility of the county.
"If there are no requirements for the position, why does the board spend money on the position?" Wurdack asked.
No aldermen, other than Isgriggs, said they received calls against the committee's decision to reduce the salary of the collector. "I encourage residents of town, if they disagree with anything we do, to let us know," said Alderman Dale Schmuke.
Alderman Paul Arand said the city discusses contracting collector's services with the county every year.
The most recent discussion stems from a request by Dowil to raise the collector's salary by $1,500 next year. Her four-year term ends in April 2010.
City Administrator Russell Rost said the time is nearing the "tail end" of when the county must be notified and a contract signed to collect city taxes. Filing for the April election begins in December.
The county collector's office began collecting for municipalities in 1998 when it started collecting for Washington. Other cities began soliciting the service. In 2006, Pacific was the latest to have the county collect its taxes.
Each of the cities the county collects for is assessed a charge for the service. One and one-half percent of the total charge goes to the collector's fund and one-half percent goes to the assessor's fund.v That money goes to the general revenue fund and offsets the extra costs in each office.
In addition to the collector and assessor charges, the county collector and clerk each get a $2,000 commission for their services. This is because both are held personally accountable for the accuracy of their offices.
Berger, Gerald, Leslie, Oak Grove Village and Parkway Village do not have to pay to have the county tocollect their taxes for them because so little tax is collected.
Another benefit to cities is that the county is better able to collect on delinquent bills. As long as the individual lives within the state, he or she will have to pay personal property tax to renew license plates and tags at the Missouri Department of Revenue.
