Top KC lawmaker wants to force Platte County to levy sales tax that voters approved
A Kansas City state lawmaker has filed legislation to force Platte County leaders to collect a voter-approved sales tax to support youth mental health services, the latest response to the county’s refusal to implement the tax.
Missouri House Minority Leader Ashley Aune, a Kansas City Democrat, filed the bill last week. It seeks to close a so-called loophole the Platte County Commission has used to block the tax, which 56% of county voters approved in November.
“When voters agree to tax themselves to protect the welfare of children, their wishes must be respected,” Aune said in a statement announcing her legislation this week.
The legislation comes roughly four months after a majority of Platte County voters approved the quarter-of-a-cent-sales tax, which created a Children Services Fund that would expand mental health services in the county.
Despite the election, the Platte County Commission has refused to levy the tax. The commission also faces a lawsuit from two residents over that decision.
In defense of their decision, the commissioners argue that Missouri law gave them the option not to collect the tax. They pointed to a line in state law that says the commission “may” collect a voter-approved tax.
Aune’s legislation would change that line to say “shall,” effectively making it a requirement for future ballot measures. The bill’s language, which would take effect in August if approved, also seeks to force Platte County to “immediately levy and collect” the tax that voters approved in November.
“Elected officials who don’t like an electoral outcome should have no ability to thwart it,” Aune said. “My legislation simply closes a legal loophole to guarantee the will of voters is carried out.”
Platte County Presiding Commissioner Scott Fricker was dismissive of the legislation in an interview with The Star, saying he respected Aune “for trying.” He said both the bill and the lawsuit the commission faces had little chance of success.
“The people that support that Children’s Services Tax are pretty pissed off,” he said. “I think that the lawsuit and Rep. Aune’s proposed legislation are a way to placate the base and that’s about it.”
It remains unclear how much support Aune’s legislation will receive during this year’s legislative session, particularly among members of the GOP-controlled General Assembly and Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe. Republican state lawmakers in recent years have typically chafed at legislation that could be framed as an increase in taxes.
If implemented, Platte County would join Clay and Jackson counties in providing mental health services for kids through similar funds. Proponents argued that the services would come amid an increase in suicide attempts and self injury among students nationwide.
The tax was expected to generate roughly $5 million each year and the average county resident would pay about $20 annually for the new fund, according to the Platte County for Kids Coalition which supported the tax.
The Star’s Alecia Taylor contributed reporting.
