By Laura Spencer
Kansas City, MO – A bill in the Missouri House that would prevent Union Station from using funds generated by a museum tax had a committee hearing today (Tuesday). Representative John Burnett, of Gladstone, says he filed the bill at the request of residents of the Northeast who were concerned about the upkeep of the Kansas City Museum, currently managed by Union Station. Burnett says the bill is intended as a clarification for the tax, which generates $1.4 million a year.
John Burnett: The mill tax, the sales tax that's paid by the citizens of Kansas City will continue to fund the museum. Now there's a dispute between Kansas City and Union Station over the management of the museum. This bill doesn't affect that. Whoever manages the museum will have that revenue stream in place for the museum.
City officials say they intend to terminate Union Station's contract to operate the Kansas City Museum, as of May 1. Union Station officials are expected to meet tomorrow (Wednesday) with City Manager Wayne Cauthen to try to reach a compromise.