By AP/St. Louis Public Radio
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Supreme Court has upheld a state law creating a fund to boost the salaries of deputy sheriffs.
Lawmakers passed legislation in 2008 ordering Missouri sheriffs to collect an extra $10 to serve court documents, after a report found deputies' pay was so low that some qualified for public assistance.
The extra revenue was to move through county treasuries into a special state account for raising deputies' pay.
St. Charles and St. Louis counties challenged the law, arguing the fee amounted to a tax because the funds passed through its coffers. The Supreme Court rejected the argument Tuesday in an unanimous opinion.
The state treasurer's office says the fund has $5.3 million and that no money has been distributed from it.