Original reporting by KMBC-TV 9, editing done by a KMBZ human
KANSAS CITY – Residents have overwhelmingly approved extending Kansas City's 1% earnings tax, keeping a major source of funding in place for core services.
Tuesday's official results show approximately 75% voted yes to renewing the tax. The earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City and makes up a significant share of the city’s general fund.
City leaders said the tax is critical to maintaining services such as police, fire protection, road maintenance and infrastructure.
“Every time as mayor that I’ve come to the people of Kansas City to ask for their support — on bonds, to make sure we could improve our parks; on bonds, to make sure we could pay for affordable housing; on increases, to make sure we could support public safety; to ensure that we could renew the earnings tax; to make sure we could take care of our water infrastructure — again and again, the people of Kansas City have said yes," Kansas City Mayor Lucas said on Tuesday night. "We have never lost, because we have always worked with the people of Kansas City, and they understand what we need to do to keep this city moving.”
Voters first approved a 0.5% earnings tax in 1963, and it was increased to 1% in 1970, where it remains today.
In 2010, Missouri lawmakers moved to eliminate local earnings taxes in Kansas City and St. Louis. A compromise allowed the tax to continue but required voters to renew it every five years.
Kansas City voters have consistently supported it, approving renewals in 2011, 2016 and 2021 before Tuesday’s vote.
