What issues are on Tuesday’s ballot for Kansas City?

Most of the focus in elections is on candidates, but sometimes ballot issues, particularly those that provide funding for cities and school districts, actually have a bigger impact on a person’s daily life and on their neighborhood.

That might be the case on Tuesday, Aug. 4, because Kansas City has five important issues on the primary ballot. The Center School District also has a no-tax-increase bond issue on the ballot, which, if approved , would pay off prior obligations and devote more funds for students services.

KC Question 1: $100 million bond for affordable housing

Question 1 is a no-tax-increase $100 million general obligation bond issue to combat the growing shortage of affordable housing in Kansas City for low- to moderate-income households. This will be accomplished by constructing, rehabilitating and renovating houses and multifamily buildings, as well as removing blight. A similar $50 million bond issue approved by voters in 2022 has become the city’s largest local funding source for affordable housing, funding many successful projects.

KC Question 2: Renovate pre-1950 convention facilities

Question 2 is a no-tax-increase $100 million general obligation bond issue to renovate and improve aging city convention and government facilities such as Municipal Auditorium and City Hall, which were constructed before 1950. Because both Questions 1 & 2 are general obligation bond issues, they will each require a four-sevenths majority, or a little more than 57.1%, to pass.

KC Question 3: Continue 1/8-cent central city development tax

Question 3 is the continuation of a 1/8-cent sales tax for 10 years to fund central city economic development projects. The tax was approved by voters for 10 years in 2017, and it is set to expire next year. This tax, much of which is paid by tourists and other visitors to Kansas City, has funded many successful economic development projects downtown and in other eligible parts of the central city. The district stretches from 9th Street to Gregory Boulevdard and has also brought jobs.

KC Question 4: $750 bond to update water system

Question 4 is a no-tax-increase $750 million revenue bond issue to rehabilitate and improve the city’s aging water system to ensure safe drinking water and reliable service. The revenue bonds would be repaid solely by ratepayers, including businesses and other large purchasers, and would not impact property tax assessments for residents or businesses.

KC Question 5: $750 million bond to improve sewers

Question 5 also is a no-tax-increase $750 million revenue bond issue, but it would rehabilitate, expand and improve the city’s aging sanitary sewer system and assure it meets all federal & state requirements to prevent water pollution. It also will not impact property tax assessments.

Center School District $5 million bond

The basic message of the Center School District’s no-tax-increase $5 million general obligation bond issue is that you can’t have good neighborhoods without good schools. There is no organized opposition to the relatively small bond issue, which would be used to pay off a prior lease purchase agreement for improvements and equipment. Passage would free up $1 million a year for the district’s operating fund to support staff, services for students and daily operations. The issue will require a four-sevenths majority vote to pass.