Board of Equalization

Mission Statement

The Jackson County Board of Equalization is an independent Board composed of citizen taxpayers of Jackson County. Its mission is to fully and fairly equalize the value of all real and tangible personal property in the county for purposes of taxation and to provide an appeal forum for taxpayers to correct perceived inequities in the assessment of value. The Board strives to allow taxpayers an efficient, public, unbiased, courteous and informative manner of addressing grievances surrounding the imposition of taxes by the county.

Composition

The County Executive appoints 3 members to serve overlapping 3-year terms.
The County Executive appoints 1 member from the unincorporated area to serve a 1-year term where property in question is located in an unincorporated area.
One member is appointed by the mayor of the municipality to serve a 1-year term where property in question is located.
One member is appointed by the school board of the school district to serve a 1-year term where property in question is located.
The County Executive designates the Chairperson.
Board members are residents of the County and hold no other County office.

Member	Appointed	Term Expires
Christopher R. Smith - Chairman	May. 18, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019
Marilyn M. Shapiro - Vice Chair	Jan. 03, 2018	Dec. 31, 2020
Forestine A. Beasley - Member	Mar. 06, 2019	Dec. 31, 2021

Independent Body Performing State-Mandated Functions

Missouri Revised Statutes require a board of equalization be formed in each county. The Board of Equalization is an independent body, established pursuant to Missouri law, specifically chapter 138 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri. The board performs state-mandated functions relating to the review and equalization of property tax assessments, including the adjudicating of tax appeals.

While the board’s members are appointed by officials of Jackson County and other local taxing jurisdictions, no other public official can control or direct the board’s actions.