Jackson County voters approve new tax to fund social services for adults 60 and older
Jackson County voters approved a property tax levy Tuesday that will raise millions of dollars to support social programs for people at or near retirement age.
With all but one precinct reporting, it passed with 58% support. Jackson County now joins Clay, Platte, Ray and more than 50 other Missouri counties in having a tax to finance their own “senior citizens’ services fund,” which help finance programs to help people age 60 and up live independently as they get older.
Jackson County voters twice rejected tax increases in the past year by big margins. Last fall it was a new sales tax on online purchases that lost by a landslide. Then a 40-year stadium sales tax to support the Royals and Chiefs failed resoundingly at the polls in April.
The county’s elected officials were gambling that they would see a different outcome on this third try at a time when taxpayers are frustrated about their rising property tax bills as a result of the 2023 reassessments that hiked values.
The 0.05% property tax levy (a nickel on every $100 of assessed valuation) is expected to raise $8 million to $10 million a year and will subsidize services like home-delivered meals and health care assistance.
The money will go into a special fund administered by a seven-member board appointed by the county legislature.
State lawmakers passed the enabling legislation 35 years ago that lets Missouri counties create senior services funds, if their voters authorize it.
