Section 2.21 Official Bond Liabilities

• Library: Local Government Deskbook (2017 Ed.)

E. (§2.21) Official Bond Liabilities

Official bonds are utilized to guarantee the honesty and integrity of an official’s performance while in office. See Motley v. Callaway Cnty., 149 S.W.2d 875, 876 (Mo. 1941) (quoting 22 R.C.L. [Ruling Case Law Reporter] 497, § 176) (“A bond is ‘in effect merely collateral security for the faithful performance’ by an officer, a duty he owes the public in any event, in order to protect the public from loss.”). Bond requirements are typically statutory in nature; these statutes may specify the precise bond amount for a particular office, though they often delegate these matters to the discretion of local government. See, e.g.:

· § 77.480, RSMo 2016 (permitting legislative bodies of third class cities to mandate certain bond requirements)

· § 79.290, RSMo 2016 (permitting

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