Long-term financial reports were already painting a challenging picture of Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, finances. One forecast published by the UG finance office last year predicted an economic downturn, one that would lead to $32 million in losses collectively over five years if the UG did nothing.

The pandemic has laid bare the fiscal vulnerability of otherwise prosperous cities like Overland Park that rely to a great extent on sales taxes to fund essential city services.

If there’s ever been a time for Kansas City’s biggest and best news organizations to work as partners, it’s now, when Kansas Citians need critical information about our metro area making its way back to being a thriving community.

Kansas City has increasingly come under pressure for investing in new developments — stretching already thin resources and undercutting revenue streams.