What is a bond or levy? Understand the Kansas City-area April 7 ballots
For the April 7 Missouri local elections, governments around the Kansas City area are asking their voters to pay for city services in a variety of ways.
But these funding mechanisms can be hard to understand, from school bonds and GO bonds to tax levies and earnings taxes.
Residents in Kansas City, Independence and Blue Springs will see funding questions on their April ballot.
In addition to financial decisions, many Missouri voters will choose their local leaders, including mayors and city councils in Independence and Lee’s Summit and school boards in Hickman Mills, Center and Park Hill.
Find all The Star’s local election coverage at kansascity.com/news/politics-government/election.
The Star’s editorial board is issuing endorsements for the April 7 election. The Opinion staff is independent and editorially separate from The Star’s newsroom.
What is a bond?
A bond is a loan granted to municipalities, generally to build large projects like schools or roads. Cities say they will pay back the money with future taxes, and if they fall behind, they might have to increase property tax to make up the difference.
Blue Springs is asking voters to issue water and sewer bonds to modernize its wastewater treatment plant. If passed, the city would finish the project before 2030 while continuing to pay back the loan with money from residents’ water and sewer bills.
The Independence School District is asking for a bond to spend $60 million to renovate schools, which would not raise residents’ property tax rate.
As part of a two-question ballot measure, the Hickman Mills School District is asking voters to approve a general obligation bond to pay down the district’s debt. This means the district is paying off its debt with more debt. It would lower property taxes for residents, but that would be made up with the second question’s tax levy, if it passes.
What is a levy?
A levy is an increase in the property tax to immediately raise money for ongoing expenses.
While bonds are used to pay for projects, governments typically use tax levies to pay for operating expenses like wages, health care or utilities.
As part of its two-question ballot measure, Hickman Mills schools are asking voters to approve a tax levy that would fund operating expenses. If passed, this would make up the 30 cents per $100 taxable dollars saved by the bond question, causing tax rates to stay the same.
What is an earnings tax?
An earnings tax is a tax paid on income earned by a person, like salaries, wages, tips and investments.
Kansas City uses this money to pay for basic city services, like fire fighting, snow plowing and trash collecting.
The city is asking residents to renew the 1% tax for the next five years. In Kansas City, everyone who lives within city limits has to pay the 1% earnings tax. In addition, those who live elsewhere have to pay the tax on income earned within the city.
How can I cast my ballot on April 7?
Election Day is Tuesday, April 7, for local races in Missouri. The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Check with your local election board for information about your polling place, voting eligibility, accessibility or registration.
- Kansas City Election Board (Kansas City residents in Jackson County): 816-842-4820
- Jackson County Election Board (rest of Jackson County, like Raytown or Independence): 816-325-4600
- Clay County Board of Election Commissioners (all of Clay County): 816-415-8683
- Platte County Board of Elections: 816-858-4400
Registered Missouri voters will need a current or recently expired photo ID issued by the federal or Missouri governments. IDs from other states are not accepted. Usable forms of photo ID for Missouri include:
- A Missouri driver’s license or a state ID that is current or expired after Nov. 5, 2024
- A non-expired military ID, including a veteran or dependant ID card that is current or expired after Nov. 5, 2024
- A U.S. passport or another form of photo ID issued by the U.S. government or the state of Missouri that is current or expired after Nov. 5, 2024
If you don’t have one of these forms of identification but registered to vote in Missouri before March 11, you can cast a provisional ballot.
