Jackson County

After voters overwhelmingly rejected the stadium sales tax last year, Jackson County and Missouri officials are struggling to coordinate on a plan to stop the teams from moving to Kansas. The only viable stadium bill now centers around Clay County.

The State Tax Commission has sent another order to Jackson County, this time about the 2025 assessments. The county's fight over the tax commission’s previous order has cemented a feud between a majority of legislators and County Executive Frank White Jr.

In a 5-4 vote last year, Jackson County legislators approved a budget that was later vetoed by County Executive Frank White. Now more than three months into 2025, Jackson County has yet to pass a spending plan. Hear why the gridlock has led to a lawsuit and why some county services aren't being funded.

County Executive Frank White vetoed the Jackson County budget in January, then four county legislators sued him. Three months later, the county is still at odds — and services are coming to a halt.

The county announced today that it will cap assessment increases at 15% this year. It has been embroiled in a monthslong legal battle over an order to roll back its 2023 assessments, which shocked property owners with a major tax increase.

After a judge order Jackson County to roll back recent property assessment increases that were greater than 15% — roughly three out of four properties — the county faces tough decisions for what to do next. Meanwhile, the housing market continues to drive up property values.

This week, a judge ruled the Missouri State Tax Commission was correct in ordering Jackson County to reverse its property assessment values from 2023. Now, the Jackson County Legislature has to figure out how that will impact taxpayers moving forward.

Kansas City voters will decide on April 8 whether to renew the public safety sales tax for 20 more years. Officials plan to use the bulk of the money to build a new municipal detention center. Despite concerns about property crime and gun violence, some residents don’t want a new jail built.

El impuesto a las ventas de seguridad pública de Kansas City se ha utilizado para apoyar al departamento de policía y los servicios médicos y de emergencia. El alcalde Quinton Lucas y otros funcionarios quieren que los votantes lo renueven para que la ciudad pueda usar el dinero para construir una nueva cárcel y un centro de rehabilitación.

Kansas City’s public safety sales tax has been used to support the police department and emergency and medical services. Mayor Quinton Lucas and other officials want voters to renew it so the city can use the money to build a new jail and rehabilitation center.

Late Friday, Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson released a statement saying that under Missouri law, the officer who shot and killed Maria Pike and her infant, Destinii, was justified in using deadly force.

Jackson County legislator Sean Smith, who along with a handful of local lawmakers met with Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe last week, says it's essential for the county to "straighten out the property tax debacles" if it wants voters to pass a future stadium sales tax measure to keep the teams in town.