Report from our reporting partners at KMBC 9 News
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —After months of contentious debate between the Jackson County Legislature and County Executive Frank White, three legislators have submitted a request in writing asking Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey to investigate White's actions.
The announcement of this move comes on the same day signatures on a petition to recall White are to be submitted to the Jackson County Election Board.
County legislators Sean Smith, Manny Abarca and Venessa Huskey penned a letter to Bailey's office asking Bailey to investigate the legality of White's actions regarding the time dedicated to the county executive position, alleged failure to provide budget information to the Legislature, alleged disbursement of funds without an approved budget and White's April 18 veto of an ordinance that would have required the county to comply with a Missouri State Tax Commission order.
Allegation 1 — Questioning White's dedication to the office of county executive
Legislators state that, as required under the Jackson County Charter, the county executive position is a full-time position.
"Mr. White has violated this mandatory requirement," legislators wrote, stating the chief of staff has been unable to account for White's whereabouts during weekly legislative meetings from May 2024 through April 2025.
Legislators state that "it is widely known" that White holds a position as coach for the Kansas City Monarchs, saying his role with the minor league baseball team consumes a significant amount of his time, "rendering him unable to fulfill his duties" effectively.
Allegation 2 — White failed to provide required budgetary information to the Legislature
Legislators note that budget documents must be complete and specific under Jackson County code. They allege that White and his office have not provided accurate budgetary numbers for 2023 and any available information for 2024 that would correspond to White's 2025 budget recommendation.
"It defies reason that the Legislature would be asked to approve a 2025 budget without accurate information for the prior years," legislators wrote.
Allegation 3 — White enabled the disbursement of funds in 2025 without an approved budget
The county remains in a dispute over the proposed 2025 budget. On Dec. 31, the county legislature voted 5-4 to approve the county executive's recommended budget with "a handful of amendments." White then vetoed that budget.
"The matter of whether or not there is a lawfully enacted budget is currently in the court system," legislators wrote. "In the meantime, the County Executive directed staff to upload the 2024 budget as though it is the 2025 budget."
Legislators said this removed critical financial controls that were meant to prevent the use of funds that had not yet been lawfully appropriated.
Legislators state this should only be done "so far as they relate to salaries" per county code. However, they allege White did not limit the prior year's budget implementation in 2025 to salaries only. They say expenditures included "more liberal statute spending categories," including operations and maintenance, a nongovernmental organization scholarship, and more.
"These actions raise serious concerns about the adherence to both county and state fiscal regulations," legislators said.
Allegation 4 — White's April 18 ordinance veto allegedly violates the law with regard to the ongoing State Tax Commission order
Legislators note in this section that White's veto of Ordinance 5958 "truly shocks the conscience."
"While the County Executive does have the authority to veto an ordinance, this veto is particularly troubling because the Ordinance simply directed White Administration to follow the law with respect to the State Tax Commission's August 2024 Order concerning the 2023 bi-annual reassessment."
The legislators allege that by vetoing Ordinance 5958, "Mr. White signals his intent to defy compliance with the STC Order, even after it was challenged in court by the administration and was upheld."
Legislators note that the 2025 assessment period is approaching the county's deadline to share valuation notices with property owners.
"Such notices are subject to statutory limits on increases that are predicated on the prior assessment values being lawful," lawmakers noted, saying White's actions are placing another assessment year "in serious jeopardy with grave consequences for our property owners, our taxing jurisdictions and even the fiscal stability of the county."
Legislators concluded the letter saying these actions "not only undermine the legal framework and financial integrity of Jackson County but also poses significant risks to the well-being of our community."
The legislators "respectfully request" that Bailey's office "reviews these actions and considers their lawfulness to ensure that the interests of Jackson County residents are protected."
The letter, dated Monday, was released publicly Wednesday, along with the announcement that signatures for a petition calling to recall White will be submitted to the Jackson County Election Board on Wednesday.
Volunteers have reportedly collected "thousands" of resident signatures seeking to put a measure on the ballot that, if passed, would remove White from the office of county executive before the end of his term.
White previously issued an emergency declaration to investigate one of the legislators involved in this letter: Abarca.