Local Missouri elections include school districts, public safety, parks and financing | Opinion
Just five months after stunning state and national elections that already are making sweeping changes to our way of life, Kansas City-area residents face another opportunity to cast our votes. This time, it’s on a more local level: city, school board elections and bond issues (that’s your tax dollars at work).
It’s too late to register for the April 8 general municipal elections, but check the Missouri secretary of state’s elections page to confirm your registration and your polling place.
Historically, these contests tend to see much lower turnouts than presidential elections, but they are important. Missouri holds general municipal elections every April, and last year’s turnout was the highest seen in years — mainly because of the stadium vote, which failed. No such vote is on this year’s ballot.
The Kansas City Star Editorial Board will endorse in a variety of these races. Here are a few we are researching, according to information from city and county sample ballots. Look for our endorsements in the coming weeks.
Kansas City
Question 1: Public Safety
Kansas City passed an ordinance in late 2024 allowing voters to decide whether to renew the public safety sales tax for 20 years. The quarter-cent sales tax question will appear on the April ballot. According to the ballot language, if renewed, the revenue from the tax would be used toward constructing a new municipal rehabilitation and detention center, as well as funding additional construction, operation and maintenance needs of law enforcement and emergency medical service providers.
Question 2: Park property
Voters will decide whether Kansas City should remove from its park system approximately 3.42 acres of Longfellow Park generally located between East 25th Street and East 26th Street, and between Gillham Road and Cherry Street, for a not-for-profit corporation, otherwise known as the Ronald McDonald House Expansion, for the public purpose of providing and expanding a campus to provide families with access to free housing, lodging and services that are near pediatric hospitals within the City.
Kansas City Public Schools bond issue: $474M
Last week, Wichita turned down its $450 million bond issue for school infrastructure. Should KC voters do the same or should they say yes? This general obligation bonds in the amount of $474,000,000 would take care of constructing, repairing, improving and equipping new and aging public school buildings, including safety and security measures, heating and cooling systems, roofs, plumbing and other deferred maintenance, according to ballot language.
If this question is approved, the district will levy a debt service property tax in the estimated amount of $0.6100 per $100 of assessed valuation of real and personal property, with $50,000,000 of the total $474,000,000 amount of general obligation bonds allocated for nine participating public charter schools.
School board races
Kansas City Public Schools has elections in several of its subdistricts: 1, 3, 5 and at large.
Grandview
Mayor: Two candidates are running for mayor of Grandview: Leonard D. Jones, Jr. and David Robinson.
Independence
Question 1: Public safety
Voters will consider general obligation bonds in the amount of $130 million to build and renovate public safety buildings, facilities and grounds including constructing, improving and equipping a new justice center. Also up for consideration are renovating and equipping an animal control facility.
Question 2: Transportation infrastructure
Voters will consider general obligation bonds in the amount of $55 million for transportation purposes, including repairing and improving streets, roads, bridges, culverts and sidewalks.
Question 3: Parks and recreation
Voters will consider general obligation bonds in the amount of $12 million to improve and equip parks and recreation buildings, facilities and grounds, including historic buildings and the Independence Athletic Complex.
Lee’s Summit Schools
Bond issue: $225M
Voters in the reorganized School District No. 7 of Jackson County (Lee’s Summit R-7) will consider its general obligation bonds in the amount of $225,000,000 to build and renovate school facilities. The ballot language reports an estimated zero increase to the district’s debt service property tax levy. If approved, the district’s debt service property tax levy is estimated to remain unchanged at $0.87 per $100 of assessed valuation of real and personal property.
School board races
Lee’s Summit Public Schools has elections in Reorganized District No. 7.
North Kansas City Schools
Bond issue: $175M
Voters will consider passing a bond issue to build and renovate school facilities. The ballot language reports an estimated zero increase to the district’s debt service property tax levy. If approved, the District’s debt service property tax levy is estimated to remain unchanged at $1.3085 per $100 of assessed valuation of real and personal property.
School board races
North Kansas City Public Schools has elections for two directors of its school board. Six candidates are on the ballot for a three-year term.
Park Hill Schools
Bond issue: $128M, 10-cent property tax increase
Two propositions, O and G, are on the April ballot. According to The Star, Proposition O would increase the debt service levy by 30 cents to support the Phase 1 replacement of Park Hill High School, stadium and field improvements at Park Hill South High School, and additions to three of the oldest elementary schools in the district.
Proposition G asks for approval of a 10-cent per $100 property tax valuation to support teacher and staff salary increases and other operational costs. The last time the district raised its tax levies in 2002 was to raise teacher salaries to the top in the region.
Platte County Schools
Bond issue: $62M
Voters would approve Phase 2 of a bond issue they approved in 2021 to improve the high school and additional classrooms.
School board races
Platte County Schools has elections for two members of its school board. Three candidates vie for the seats.
This story was originally published March 13, 2025 at 9:13 AM.