Should KC and Jackson County split? I’ve seen it before and advise caution | Opinion

I wish I better understood Missouri state Rep. Mike Steinmeyer’s motive for wanting to separate Kansas City and Jackson County. On Wednesday, I sent messages seeking clarification to Steinmeyer’s official email address and his campaign page on Facebook but neither was returned.

A voicemail message wasn’t returned either. Too bad, because I would really like to know why Steinmeyer, a Republican from Sugar Creek, wants Kansas City and Jackson County to divorce.

Are things really that bad between the two local governments?

Sure, there could be legitimate frustration among Jackson Countians over the recent tax assessment debacle, but that was a county-wide issue, not a Kansas City-generated one. Besides, some relief and changes are coming on that front. Interim County Executive Phil Levota recently announced a property tax relief program for residents affected by the 2023 assessments.

And just last month, voters overwhelmingly approved making the county assessor an elected position instead of an appointed one.

From my seat, I’d love to see more collaboration among city and county leaders regarding public safety issues related to city- and county-owned detention facilities, improved mass transit options throughout the county and region, and other quality of life issues such as the future of the Truman Sports Complex.

But is splitting up — à la the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County — really the answer here? My answer would be a resounding no.

Let’s not go the way of St. Louis

I’m no fan of a proposal to separate the two local governments here.

For one, I was born and raised in St. Louis, a city that split into two in 1876. Without dwelling on my hometown’s decline too much, historians have said by divorcing, the city of St. Louis lost its ability to expand because of the county’s borders and the Mississippi River.

For decades, that city’s population — some could argue, its quality of life, too — has continued to decline. Many factors contributed to St. Louis’ decadeslong slide, but separating into two was chief among them.

I’d hate to see Kansas City, and to a lesser extent Jackson County, suffer a similar fate.

Another issue I have with this proposal would be the logistical, political and civic nightmare a possible secession would cause here. I believe Kansas City and Jackson County need each other.

State Sen. Barbara Washington is not a fan of the proposed measure. Neither is Levota.

“I definitely don’t agree with it,” Washington, a Democrat from Kansas City, wrote in a text message. “The cost to taxpayers would be too great and the losses to smaller communities would be negative as well.”

In a brief telephone interview Wednesday, Levota said: “I think we have a 200-year history of being the best county in the state of Missouri. Any movement on this would come from voters, but it’s a complicated issue that needs a lot of vetting and discussion.”

What’s the bill really about?

Steinmeyer is a former Independence City Council member and was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in Nov. 2024. In a bill prefiled Monday, Steinmeyer proposes that Kansas City separate from Jackson County. If approved by the General Assembly, House Joint Resolution 107 would call for a statewide vote on the matter during a special election next year.

If the measure passed statewide, voters in Kansas City and Jackson County would then vote to secede or not. If the divorce moved forward, a transition committee would be established to handle logistics of the change. If it failed, the bill would go up for another vote every 10 years until it is approved, according to the bill’s text.

What does any of this mean? It means there is some movement in Jefferson City that could force Missouri voters to decide if Kansas Citians should vote to split from Jackson County and the other way around. It’s early in the process and a hearing on the matter hasn’t been scheduled — the General Assembly convenes for its latest session next month.

Without talking to Steinmeyer, the joint resolution’s sponsor, I’d be hard-pressed to truly understand what his aim is. But could the noise be just political theater or impetus for a legitimate attempt for Kansas City and Jackson County to go their separate ways?

To the latter point, I’d hope that a divorce isn’t even up for debate.

Toriano Porter

Opinion Contributor,

The Kansas City Star

816-234-4779

Toriano Porter is an opinion writer and member of The Star’s editorial board. He’s received statewide, regional and national recognition for reporting since joining McClatchy in 2012.