LEADER CLINTON COUNT Y
Thurs., January 12, 2023 |
Plattsburg, Lathrop and Gower, Mo.
$1.00
| “Covers Clinton County Like Dew ”
SCHOOLS
Lathrop R-II looking to cut $500k next year work for the cuts. Lathrop R-II Superintendent Chris Fine said that 80 percent of the district’s expenses are in personnel, so positions will likely need to be cut in order to reach the $500,000 mark.
by brett adkison leader editor
The Lathrop R-II School District will be looking to cut half a million dollars from its budget next year, and officials are already laying the ground-
As of now, he expects the district will need to cut six full-time positions from the teaching staff and three positions from the support staff (or a combination of position cuts that reaches those amounts).
Easing the blow, Fine said most, if not all, of those positions will be closed through attrition – people either retiring or changing jobs. He added that the district is looking to do some “right sizing”
through the cuts. For example, he said there were some grades in the elementary that had just 12 or 13 students per classroom, so losing a teacher in those grades won’t result in an ||Continued on A2
BACK FROM THE BREAK
PLATTSBURG
City could put levy increase on April ballot by brett adkison
INSIDE one section | 12 pages
Clerk Answers Call to Duty Clinton County Clerk David Woody to be deployed to Middle East, deputy clerk hired to fill in while he’s away. || PAGE A3
Unbeaten Tigers The Plattsburg Tigers basketball team knocked off rival Lawson on Friday to stay undefeated on the season. || PAGE A7
leader editor
The City of Plattsburg could soon see a major restructuring of its tax levies – including a levy increase. During the Plattsburg City Council meeting on Monday, January 9, City Administrator Chase Waggoner made a presentation to the board that included a possible tax levy increase, and a proposal to further specify how each portion of the levy is to be spent. Overall, the city’s property tax levy would go from $1.1346 per $100 assessed valuation up to $1.60 per $100 assessed value, creating approximately $146,294 in new income. The tax increase would need to be approved by voters this April, and Waggoner said the council – if it sees fit – would need to vote to place the question on the ballot by January 27. The council appeared open to the proposal on Monday and is expected to meet on January 23 to decide whether to place it on the ballot. The proposal could also be adjusted before heading to the voters.
Gorham retires from City After 36 years of service to the City of Plattsburg in multiple positions, Ron Gorham officially calls it a career. || PAGE A3
East Buchanan sweeps Lathrop as season resumes
Area basketball and wrestling teams returned from the Christmas break last week to resume the winter sports season. The East Buchanan Lady Bulldogs picked up a major victory in the KCI Conference title race, defeating the Lathrop Lady Mules on Friday, with the East Buchanan boys defeating the Mules for the sweep. For more, turn to page A7. (Above) Lathrop senior Kaitlyn Morgan drives to the basket with East Buchanan’s Hilarry Elifrits defending. (Left) Lathrop senior Matt Miller and EBHS senior Jack Archdekin. brett adkison | the leader
||Continued on A2
City of Lathrop considering street sales tax leader editor
Voters in Lathrop could be deciding on a proposed sales tax this April to help fund improvements to the city’s street system. The Lathrop City
Council is expected to consider placing a half-cent sales tax on the Municipal Election ballot during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, January 17. City officials project that a half-cent sales tax would
generate approximately $215,000 annually. “As we all know, our city streets are in need of repair,” said Lathrop Mayor Jennifer Morrison. “Due to the rising cost of inflation, the bond money we
THE LEADER Est. 1895
Winner of 100+ awards from the Missouri press assoc.
Honeycutt Media
CITIES
by brett adkison
Community........A3 Opinion..............A4 Legals.......A14,A15 Sports...............A7
have set aside for street repair will just touch a third of the roads. It’s not fair to fix some of the roads and not others.” If placed and approved, the tax wouldn’t go into effect until October
1.
Traditionally, the city has handled its street improvements through voter-approved bonds every 10 years, with the most recent improvement still in ||Continued on A2
102 e. Maple St. Plattsburg, Mo., 64477 (UPS 435580000) 816.539.2111 email: leader@clintoncountyleader.com
VOL. 128, NO. 11