COMMENTARY

Six burning questions for the KC area in 2012

By YAEL T. ABOUHALKAH

The Kansas City Star

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The year 2011 was a positive one in many respects for the Kansas City metropolitan area.

That makes it easier for residents plus political and business leaders to look ahead to the important issues they must deal with in 2012.

Let’s get started with a review of some crucial matters posed in this column late last year. Actually, things worked out pretty well on the prognostication side of things in 2011.

Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser was ousted (thank you, Sly James).

Kansas City’s earnings tax was renewed (thank you, voters).

Kansas’ Clean Air Act was not repealed (thank you, state legislators).

And Troy Schulte was named as the new city manager (thank you, City Council).

Unfortunately, cross-state business poaching by both Missouri and Kansas continued. And the Chiefs didn’t do as well as predicted, losing their playoff football game to the Baltimore Ravens.

Now on to a look at six crucial questions in 2012.

Will Mayor Sly James take over the entire Kansas City Public Schools system?

It will be a legislative battle royal in Jefferson City, and James so far has not amassed compelling reasons for lawmakers to back his bid. My best guess at this point: The General Assembly will make it possible to slightly break up the Kansas City district and allow nearby districts such as Center, Raytown and Independence to take a few thousand more students. That would leave a smaller Kansas City system in the urban core, which then could be put under mayoral control.

Will Johnson County schools get more local money to spend on education?

They are likely to get that opportunity, but I’m not sure they are going to take it. Gov. Sam Brownback properly appears ready to back a new school funding formula that would allow districts such as Blue Valley, Shawnee Mission and Olathe to seek higher property taxes. Schools have been cutting expenses in tough economic times. While those reductions have created some controversy, the schools as currently financed continue to pump out lots of high-achieving students. The districts eventually could have a tougher-than-expected task in making a winning case for more local funds from voters.

Will the Kansas City Council approve needed pension changes for thousands of retirees and current workers?

A task force has done the necessary homework to prod elected officials in the right direction. Now police officials and the city’s unions are lobbying against slight reductions in retirement benefits. Taxpayers must hope Mayor James and the council stand firm and accept the work of the task force, or even find ways to improve on it. The city is spending too much on pensions now, leaving less for necessary basic services for Kansas Citians.

Will real progress be made on the “Big 5” ideas promoted by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce?

Given the chamber’s importance in setting an economic development agenda for the entire region, it’s up to chamber leaders to push ahead with all five initiatives. On a priority scale, it’s most essential that the business community determine how it can best work to help revive battered parts of the urban core. Generally, the other Big 5 ideas will rise or fall on the actions of a relatively small number of business leaders. For instance, will big-time donors help bring the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance downtown?

Will the Kansas City Water Services Department be overhauled?

That must be the prime task for Bill Downey, the new program management consultant for a critical agency that serves Kansas Citians and many Johnson Countians. The department needs to dramatically improve customer service and more efficiently repair water lines.

Will the Royals make the American League playoffs in the same year the All-Star Game will be held at Kauffman Stadium?

The answer should be a big, positive “yes,” especially given all the Royals’ young sluggers. (But about that pitching....)

It was a great joy going out to the ballpark during the Royals’ glory years in the 1970s and early 1980s. It just might be a load of fun in 2012, too.

That would give the entire region something to celebrate.