Through the move from the Jefferson County Courthouse to the new Administration Center in 2003, through the change in 2008 to a charter form of government, through electoral near-sweeps first by Democrats and more recently by Republicans, there has been one constant in Jefferson County government – collector Beth Mahn.
Mahn was first elected in 1986 to succeed longtime collector Earl Toulouse. She’s stuck around ever since, even outlasting Circuit Clerk Howard Wagner, who was elected the same year but opted to retire four years ago.
A Democrat, Mahn is seeking her ninth consecutive four-year term in the Nov. 6 election. She said earlier this year that she does not plan to seek a 10th term, which would tie her for longevity with former county clerk Eleanor Koch Rehm.
Republican Lisa “Brewer” Short of Cedar Hill would like to limit Mahn to eight terms. She won the August primary election against Arnold city councilman Jason Fulbright to earn the right to challenge Mahn.
The collector is paid a salary of $81,149 a year.
SHORT, 49, lists her address as P.O. Box 13, Cedar Hill. She has two children and one grandchild. She has worked for Mercy Hospital since 2001, in accounts receivable and payable, software support and training, writing money handling policies and as project coordinator.
A 1988 graduate of Northwest High School, she is a Jefferson College graduate and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She has been a trustee for the Cedar Hill Elks for five years and was secretary-treasurer for the Church of God from 1995-1997.
Social media: Website: lisa4collector.com Facebook: Lisa “Brewer” Short for Collector of Revenue
MAHN, 63, lives at 159 Pioneer Trail, Hillsboro. She and her husband, James Michael Burch, have three children and three grandchildren. A 1973 graduate of Cor Jesu Academy, she received an associate degree from Jefferson College in 1975, where she graduated with honors. She worked in banking from 1973 to 1982, was deputy treasurer of Jefferson County from 1982 to 1987, served 10 years on the board of the Mental Health Association of Greater St. Louis, which she also has served as president, and she has been president of the Missouri County Collectors Association.
What are the collector's duties? Why are you qualified to carry them out?
Short: Collectors are responsible for billing and processing tax payments. They collect current and delinquent property taxes along with special assessments and fees for liquor, merchants’ licenses and county permits. The collector is then responsible for the accounting and distribution to entities such as school, library and fire districts.
Mahn: I am responsible for collecting and distributing real estate and personal property taxes. Last year more than $235 million passed through my office and I am very proud of the fact that I have passed every audit with flying colors.
What would you do to improve public access to data controlled by your office?
Short: The collector’s website needs updating and I would make sure that it is more mobile-friendly. When the taxpayers make a payment online, they are not immediately provided a receipt. I would like to rectify that.
Mahn: All of our information is public information, and it is all on our county website. We also send our paid tax information directly to the Missouri Department of Revenue on a weekly basis so your paid tax information is available online at license offices. This allows you to renew your plates online so you don't even have to go to the local office.
What would you do to improve customer service?
Short: I am not a politician but I bring 18 years of customer service experience with me. Government should serve the people. Customer service and ease of obtaining accurate bills and paid receipts should be foremost. I am highly qualified to evaluate the systems and implement new ones to save the taxpayers’ money and stop wasteful spending. I will also begin the process of allowing taxpayers to make installment payments. This will help individuals, senior citizens and business owners to budget for taxes rather than have one lump sum due at the holidays.
Mahn: Paying taxes is never a pleasant task, but we try to make it as painless as possible while staying within state statutes. Once your property has been assessed and put on the tax rolls, we offer many options for payment. We accept almost every type of payment, with options to pay online, in person, by mail or phone. Paid tax receipts are mailed the next business day. You can print paid tax information for real estate directly from our website. You can also print a tax waiver. Personal property receipts should be available online very soon.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Short: I will use what I do well, to do good for my community. My main goal is to give taxpayers the option to pay taxes throughout the year in payments, instead of all at once during the holidays. Other counties do it and I want to make it happen for our county. Unlike my opponent, I have signed a pledge to never join the lawsuit asking for a raise, back pay and additional benefits. The estimated cost to the county is $1.2 million to start with.
Mahn: The collector of revenue is not a position, it is a job, and I am at my desk every day before 8 a.m. doing the job that I have been elected to do. I take a great deal of pride in my work, and my staff and I are constantly striving to improve our processes and adapt to legislative changes. We want to be as responsive to the needs of Jefferson County taxpayers as possible.