The earnings tax became the easy-to-pass tax for voters Tuesday in Kansas City. With 100 percent of the vote in, the tax cruised to renewal with 77 percent approval. The "yes" votes totaled 39,444 to the 11,506 "no" votes.
Backers hoped for a wide margin of victory to make the case to state lawmakers to leave the crucial revenue alone.
The tax pays for police and fire protection and funds 40 percent of the city’s general fund.
Voters have to go to the polls every five years to approve a renewal of the tax.
Joe Reardon, the president and CEO of Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, released the following statement:
“For the second time, voters in Kansas City, Missouri have approved the renewal of the earnings tax by a significant margin. And, for the second time, Kansas City businesses have provided significant support to the campaign effort. This expensive, every-five-year exercise needs to be revised by the Missouri General Assembly. Kansas City voters have spoken - twice - to keep the e-tax. We hope they’re listening in Jefferson City.”
There was another important tax vote Tuesday night in Independence. Voters there on the second try approved a sales tax to help pay for upgraded police equipment and other law enforcement needs.
Cass County voters sent a confusing message to their law enforcement community. A tax passed to make improvements to the Cass County Justice Center, but there won’t be more prosecutors and deputies to use the facilities. A second tax proposal failed in an effort to provide more deputies and prosecutors.
The Raymore Peculiar School District will get a big boost after voters said yes to $27 million in school bonds. The money will be used for improvements to schools across the growing district.
Across the state line, voters in Prairie Village elected Courtney McFadden over incumbent David Morrison.
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