Mo. Rev. Stat. § 49.305: Sites for courthouse, jail, may acquire — funds from which payment authorized.

The county commission of any county may acquire by purchase, for the county, improved or unimproved real estate for a site for a courthouse, jail or poorhouse or infirmary; or, when the county owns the site may acquire by purchase improved or unimproved real estate as an addition to or enlargement of the site. The county commission may pay for the real estate acquired out of any money in the county treasury belonging to the contingent fund or out of any surplus in any other fund at the close of any fiscal year, after the payment of all warrants drawn during the year against the fund and of all other previously issued and outstanding warrants against the fund.