Kansas City Council schedules earnings tax election for April 5

The Kansas City Council agreed Thursday to ask voters on April 5 whether they want to renew the 1 percent earnings tax for another five years.

“This is very important,” Finance Committee chairman Scott Wagner said, pointing out that the earnings tax generates nearly 40 percent of the city’s $533 million in general fund money.

Missouri voters decided in 2010 that Kansas City and St. Louis should have to vote every five years to renew their earnings taxes. Kansas City voters did that in 2011, and 78 percent endorsed continuation of the tax.

Also Thursday, the council unanimously approved a measure that directs the city manager to figure out over the next 60 days how to pay for up to $18 million in improvements in the Historic 18th and Vine Jazz District.

This story was originally published January 7, 2016 at 4:26 PM with the headline "Kansas City Council schedules earnings tax election for April 5."