NewsLocal News

Actions

Independence voters pass Prop P ‘for police, pets’

Proposition P sign.jpg
Posted at 10:09 PM, Aug 06, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-08 11:18:20-04

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Independence voters apparently do like police and pets as the name of a community group organized to support Proposition P suggests.

With all precincts reporting, the city will impose a new local use tax on online purchases. The money will be used to pay for extra police officers and to operate a no-kill animal shelter.

The measure passed with 55.65% of voters signing off on Proposition P, which imposes a 2.25% sales tax on internet-based purchases, according to unofficial results from the Jackson County Election Board.

Voters rejected a similar measure last year, but Independence will get a much-needed boost to its bottom line.

City leaders said the police force is “woefully” understaffed with 12 to 15 officers on patrol in the 78-square-mile town of 120,000 people.

Independence took over operation of the Jackson County Regional Animal Shelter in January, when the Great Plains SPCA ended its five-year agreement after only one year.

The new tax revenue will fill the budget hole that move created.

The use tax will be split 50-50 until the animal shelter is fully funded at $750,000. After that, the funds will go towards new police officers until they are fully funded.

Anything remaining waterfalls into other sales tax areas as regular sales tax revenue would, a representative with the City of Independence explained.

Click here for more information.

Voters in Greenwood overwhelmingly passed a ballot question to continue a mutual aid agreement with Lee’s Summit for fire and ambulance service at nearly 92% voting yes.

But voters in Lake Lotawana rejected a property tax levy increase with more than 55% voting against the ballot question.

Lee’s Summit voters also passed a nearly $20 million bond for public safety improvements.