Opinion Letter No. 70-67

May 23, 1967

Honorable Lawrence O. Davis
Prosecuting Attorney
Franklin County
Union, Missouri

Dear Mr. Davis:

This letter is in response to a request from your predecessor for an official opinion of this office on the question of whether the county court has authority to withhold wages from county employees to pay a premium for a voluntary group hospitalization program.

The powers of county courts are limited to such powers that are granted by the Constitution or Statutes of Missouri, expressly or by necessary implication.

There is no provision in the Missouri Constitution or Statutes for payroll deductions by county courts for county employees to pay premiums for a group, hospitalization program. Thus, there is no legal authority for the county court to withhold wages from the paychecks of employees for a voluntary group hospitalization program.

Very truly yours,

Norman H. Anderson
Attorney General