JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Late payments for past personal property taxes have arisen in another Missouri political campaign this year.
County tax records show Attorney General Chris Koster three times was late paying personal property taxes for a vehicle - most recently in 2009. Personal property taxes typically are due at the end of each calendar year, and Koster paid the bills in January.
The total for late tax charges from Cass County adds up to less than $200. In addition, Koster was charged $70 for a late personal property assessment from 2008 while paying the property tax timely that year.
"He paid his taxes and the late fee," Koster campaign spokeswoman Rebecca Katz said.
Koster won election in 2008 and took office in January 2009. He is running for re-election against Republican Ed Martin, who served as the chief of staff to Republican former Gov. Matt Blunt.
Martin campaign manager Steve Michael said "the consistent failure to pay taxes on time is a worrisome trend" and cited it as an example of Koster's "fiscal mismanagement."
Tax issues have been raised in other campaigns this cycle. In July, before last week's primary, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder's campaign said he never received the bill for a missed property tax on land in his hometown of Cape Girardeau.
In the U.S. Senate race, three leading Republicans competing in the primary incurred late fees for property taxes on vehicles or real estate. Last year, Democratic U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill paid overdue taxes, interest and penalties for an airplane.