§ 137.045 RSMo — Assessment, levy, and collection not to be made except as provided — penalty

1. Any county commissioner or other county officer in this state who shall assess, levy or collect, or who shall attempt to assess, levy or collect, or cause to be assessed, levied or collected, any tax or taxes other than those specified and enumerated in section 137.035 , without being first ordered so to do by the circuit court of the county, or the judge thereof, in the express manner provided and directed in section 137.040 , shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not less than five hundred dollars, and, in addition to such punishment, his office shall become vacant; and the method provided in section 137.040 for the assessment, levy and collection of any tax or taxes not enumerated and specified in section 137.035 , shall be the only method known to the law whereby such tax or taxes may be assessed or collected, or ordered to be assessed, levied or collected.

2. This section shall be construed to extend and apply to the county commission of any county, as well as to any commissioner thereof, and to extend and apply to the county board of equalization, and to any other body holding or exercising any county office or public trust in the county, under the constitution and laws of this state.