County, Vanguard At Standstill Over Assessor Software

Less than a month after county commissioners voted to have Vanguard software installed in the assessor’s office, the situation appears to be at a standstill.

Officials from Vanguard met with commissioners on Tuesday and said that unless Assessor Kelli Vestal was on board, they wouldn’t proceed.

However, Vestal told commissioners that she would be open to using Vanguard for personal property assessment, but not for real estate.

Software Switch

With the passage of a sales tax increase in April 2018, the commission and County Clerk John Martin set forth on moving away from QuickBooks to a government-friendly accounting software. 

The clerk and treasurer offices were on QuickBooks, the collector on DEVNET and the assessor on Governmentor.

Commissioners said they were upholding a promise to residents when they approved the purchase of Incode last year. 

Now, the clerk, treasurer and collector offices will be on Incode. Incode meshes with Vanguard, a separate software and technology company that focuses on assessment.

Vanguard is used in 55 counties in Missouri, including neighboring counties like Phelps, Iron, Washington and Franklin.

However, Vestal has been resistant to dropping Governmentor. Vestal said she has had no problems with it and that she has not received any complaints from taxpayers.

In October, the commission gave Vestal six months to clean up any issues between Governmentor and Incode. 

On April 23, they voted to make the switch, which left Vestal frustrated. She said she had not received any communication from the commission.

Vanguard Transition

Vanguard’s Brad Miller said one part of the courthouse wants to change and Vestal doesn’t. 

“Since we deal directly with assessors, it has to be with their blessing,” Miller said. “If someone doesn’t want to work with us, it’s not for us to (make them). Would I love a new client? Yes. But at the end of the day, we have to work together. If not, it’s just not going to happen.”

The transition from Governmentor to Vanguard would not be an easy one, Miller said, but in the end, it provides the most accurate assessment.

“It can be painful. It’s work,” he said.

There are 18,000-plus parcels in Crawford County and each one would have to be exported from Governmentor to Vanguard. The process can take years. Miller said it took Iron County six years.

Vestal said she is opposed to the real estate part of Vanguard simply because of how much time it will take.

“Phelps County began the conversion in 2013 and it will be done in 2021,” she said, adding that Governmentor is old, but it works and she has no hiccups. 

“I am in compliance with the state of Missouri. Governmentor is approved by the state of Missouri,” Vestal said.