Kansas City voters will answer these ballot questions on April 5. Are you ready?
Kansas City’s first election of the year is coming up on Tuesday April 5. This local election will decide school board officials in some areas surrounding the city, as well as determine the fate of up to three ballot initiatives.
A ballot initiative is a proposed policy change whose fate is decided directly by voters.
Everyone voting in the city of Kansas City will see the same two questions on their ballots—and some will see a third. Here’s what they mean.
Question 1: Sewers
The city is asking voters for permission to raise $750 million for the purpose of “rehabilitating, expanding and improving” the sewer system. These repairs will keep the city in line with EPA requirements.
Voting “yes” would give the city permission to issue revenue bonds to pay for these upgrades. Voting “no” would prevent the city from issuing revenue bonds.
Selling a revenue bond is similar to taking out a loan. If approved, investors would buy these bonds with the assurance that the city will pay them back over time using money it makes from sewer utility bills.
Question 2: Healthcare
If approved, this measure would renew a small tax that is currently in place to help fund nonprofit health centers and ambulance services in Kansas City. The tax is 0.22%, or 22 cents per $100.
Most of this money goes to University Health, with a small amount helping to fund other local clinics like Samuel Rodgers Health Center, Swope Health and others.
Voters must renew this tax every nine years, and last did so in 2013.
Voting “yes” would keep this tax in place at the same rate it is at now. Voting “no” would get rid of it, removing a funding source from local clinics and ambulance services.
Mayor Quinton Lucas and nine City Council representatives support the passage of both of these ballot measures.
Question 3: Park Property
Some voters within the city of Kansas City will see a third question on their ballots having to do with city parks department land. City officials have determined that just under seven acres of vacant land on the west side of Searcy Creek Parkway isn’t a good location for a new park or public space.
Voting “yes” would remove this land from parks department jurisdiction. Voting “no” would keep it in the parks system.
Do you have more questions about upcoming elections in Kansas City? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published March 31, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
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