By Eric Pool

Updated 3/24

The inheritance tax was instituted in 1901 and was originally designated to "permanently maintain county roads". That designation was lifted some time ago and counties are allowed to spend the collection in many different ways.

According to the Platte institute, Because collections can fluctuate dramatically, making forecast nearly impossible to calculate, counties treat it as a cash reserve. "Because the local revenue received from the inheritance tax functions like a county cash reserve, it is administered and spent in different ways across all 93 counties."

This county has $2.2 million in the inheritance fund. This money can be used in nearly limitless possibilities according to Platte institute. This should be used to relieve pressure off of future possible property tax increases. With a reduction in the budgeted spending and a supplement to property tax collection via the inheritance tax savings account the county is sitting on, we could reduce property taxes over the next several years. This will enables the levy to be reduced making the county more attractive from a businesses and investment perspective, especially with the government activity coming over the next several years with the missile upgrades. This also puts spending capital (disposable income) back into businesses and family households to relieve recession fears and pressure off all our residence and businesses. This also allows businesses to fix their buildings and invest.