City leaders urge voters to renew public safety sales tax
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - City officials and business leaders gathered Monday to urge residents to vote in favor of renewing the public safety sales tax on April 8. The one-quarter cent sales tax, which has been in place for 23 years, would fund the construction of a new municipal and rehabilitation center, as well as additional law enforcement and emergency medical services (EMS) maintenance projects.
If approved, the tax would be renewed for another 20 years.
Debate Over City Jail Construction
The proposal has sparked debate among residents, with opinions divided over whether the new jail would improve public safety or create additional challenges for vulnerable populations.
Mayor Quinton Lucas, who s the renewal, warned of potential consequences if the measure fails.
“If this renewal doesn’t next week, there will still be offenders on our streets,” Lucas said. “There are some serious offenders in our city. It is about making sure that they’re held able. It is about making sure that they make different life choices and that we have a way to push them into doing so.”
The proposed facility would house individuals convicted of crimes such as assault, theft, and domestic violence while also providing on-site rehabilitation services. Lucas argues that when current offenders are transported to facilities in other parts of the state, they do not receive the services they need, causing them to reoffend upon release.
“If this does not , we have offenders of all types—people who are breaking into businesses, people who are tresing, and in some cases, domestic violence offenders—who will not be going anywhere. That’s the challenge,” Lucas said. “We are trying to make sure that we invest in rehabilitation and are doing everything right that we need to, but at the same time, it is important that we have this tool for Kansas City and its future.”
Opposition Raises Concerns
Not all residents the tax renewal. Pateisha Royal, a community organizer with Decarcerate KC, expressed concerns that a new jail could do more harm than good.
“Jails do not prevent crime,” Royal said. “This is harmful for individuals who are already struggling to put food on their table, to pay their utilities, to get their children to and from school. That’s harm within itself.”
Decarcerate KC has worked with the city on programs such as the REACH initiative, which focuses on diverting individuals with substance abuse issues away from the criminal justice system. The group is also in the process of setting up community safety hubs in the Oak Park, Santa Fe, and Vineyard neighborhoods on Kansas City’s east side, where groups meet regularly to discuss safety.
“We know that policing is very high in Black and brown and impoverished communities, so what we want to do is really solve how to get resources into the community—and locking people up is not one of those,” Royal said.
Community Perspectives
Community leaders remain divided on the issue. Pat Clarke, a community outreach specialist with the Oak Park Neighborhood, acknowledged the complexity of the debate but emphasized the need for a secure facility to house repeat offenders. Clarke said he has served as a liaison between the community and police to mitigate crime in the area.
“It wouldn’t make me happy to fill up a jailhouse,” Clarke said. “There are some actors who don’t want to act right, and yes, you need a place to put them.”
With the April 8 vote approaching, city and community leaders are encouraging all eligible residents to participate in the decision-making process.
“V-O-T-E. Vote,” Clarke added. “Until we vote, it won’t matter.”
Other revenue from the sales tax will go toward capital improvement projects for the Kansas City Police Department (KD) and EMS providers. Lucas said if the tax does not , the city’s public safety budget will face a $25 million cut.
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