During a public budget hearing, KCPD budget officials told the council that $3.5 million would be enough for legal expenses this year. Two months later, the board announced $18.1 million in lawsuit settlements.
Local Government
Posted inLocal Government
Mario Vasquez is Kansas City’s new city manager. Here are three key issues that he will confront in the first 100 days.
Big decisions loom at Kansas City Hall — including preparations for next year’s World Cup matches, building a new city jail and managing a budget amid financial uncertainties.
Posted inLocal Government
Tense relationship between Port KC and labor, schools and City Hall strained by Missouri bill
A bill before the Missouri legislature would update 50-year-old laws governing port authorities, but one sentence in that bill caught the attention of several KC groups. The bill will likely be changed to carve out certain exceptions for KC and St. Louis.
Posted inState Government
Dysfunction makes path to keeping Chiefs and Royals in Jackson County ‘rough’
With the Jackson County option sidelined by “dysfunction,” the only stadium-related bill to progress through the Missouri legislature would open a path for a Royals stadium in Clay County.
Posted inLocal Government
Gridlock in local government: Jackson County has been operating without an approved budget for months
County Executive Frank White vetoed the Jackson County budget in January, then four county legislators sued him. The county is still at odds three months later.
Posted inLocal Government
Jackson County may roll back property assessments — but don’t hold your breath for a refund
A judge ruled that Jackson County has to roll back its property assessment increases. But there’s still no end in sight for the county’s assessment troubles.
Posted inRural
Revitalizing a rural downtown is difficult enough. It’s even harder when the state owns the main road.
Some Missouri towns don’t have control over their main streets because they are state highways. When they want to pursue downtown revitalization projects, not having control over the road can make things complicated.
Posted inLocal Government
Brian Platt is out. But he’s not the first Kansas City manager to be ousted
On Thursday, Kansas City Manager Brian Platt joined six other former city managers who have been ousted by the City Council. In fact, city managers are nearly as likely to be fired — or pressured to resign — as they are to leave on their own terms.
Posted inElections
Kansas City is voting on a sales tax to fund a new jail. Here’s what to know about Question 1
Kansas City’s public safety sales tax has been used to support the police department and emergency and medical services. Mayor Quinton Lucas and other officials want voters to renew it so the city can use the money to build a new jail and rehabilitation center.
Posted inLocal Government
KC meteorologists rely on the National Weather Service — nearly 2,500 job cuts put storm warnings at risk
Trump layoffs have hit the National Weather Service, the agency responsible for collecting weather data. That could spell danger for millions of people who rely on accurate forecasts.