What’s next after Jackson County rejects Chiefs only sales tax question
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jackson County legislators complain they’ve reached a stalemate, and they need assistance at the state level.
Local lawmakers are turning the page, now that a proposed sales tax for Arrowhead Stadium improvements won’t be included on the November ballot.
The ballot deadline passed one day after the Jackson County legislature rejected a Chiefs-only one-quarter cent sales tax, a vote that resulted in a 5-to-4 opinion against including that item on the next ballot.
At least two local legislators believe the vote adds a sense of urgency, and they want Missouri leaders to be more involved.
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“Time isn’t on our side,” Manny Abarca IV, who represents Jackson County’s first district, said on Tuesday.
Abarca voted for including the Chiefs-only sales tax on the upcoming Election Day ballot. Abarca said he wanted the people’s voice to matter, and for Jackson County Executive Frank White to be more visible in his progress with the Chiefs and Royals stadium projects.
Abarca said he could imagine use of more from the county’s parks and rec budgets, along with bond money, to enhance this endeavor, but he’s asking county leadership to step up.
“If we wanted to make these deals happen, we could, even if worked with partners like across the street at city hall. It’s just that I don’t think there’s political will or interest from that side of the hall to make this deal done,” Abarca said on Tuesday.
Conversely, Sixth-district Jackson County Legislator Sean Smith voted against putting the proposed sales tax to the voters.
On Tuesday, Smith explained his vote, saying he believed White would veto the division anyway. Smith said he doesn’t want to see $50 million annually slip across the border into Kansas.
Smith and Abarca want to see current Missouri Gov. Mike Parson get more involved before leaving office in January. Gov. Parson has mentioned the possibility of calling a special legislative session geared toward protecting Show-Me-State businesses, which would potentially include pro sports franchises.
“I think it would be great if we did it sooner as opposed to later. I think the composition of the legislature is likely to be fairly similar, so if he can get it passed with this legislative group, great,” Smith said.
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Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas is on vacation in Europe this week. On Monday, the mayor posted to social media, saying he’s confident both the Chiefs and Royals will remain in Kansas City, Missouri.
Also on Tuesday, White’s office sent a statement to FOX4 , saying he’s dedicated to keeping the teams based in Jackson County. However, White’s team wouldn’t say what his next step might be.
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