MO HB451

Allows counties to amend annual budgets during a fiscal year when receiving additional funds (federal/state grants or private donations) that could not be estimated at budget adoption, following standard budget adoption procedures.

Permits counties to decrease annual budgets up to twice per fiscal year if experiencing a verifiable decline in funds of 2% or more that could not be anticipated, with a 30-day notice requirement including published summary of proposed reductions.

Requires negotiations with all independently elected officeholders before reducing appropriations affecting them, and prohibits decreases from unduly affecting any single officeholder or impacting dedicated funds.

Allows county commissioners to reduce budgets of departments under their direct supervision without the restrictions in this section.

Sunsets subsections 2, 3, and 4 on July 1, 2016; charter counties retain authority to amend budgets under their charter provisions.