ORDINANCE NO. 251029
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Sponsor: Mayor Quinton Lucas
Calling for submission to the voters of Kansas City, at an election to be held on the general municipal election day of April 7, 2026, a question of whether to continue Kansas City’s current one-percent earnings tax for five years; directing the City Clerk to provide notice of the election; and recognizing an accelerated effective date.
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WHEREAS, the earnings tax has been part of the City’s financial structure since Kansas City voters passed a Charter amendment in 1963 authorizing the City to enact a tax of one-half percent; and
WHEREAS, in 1970, Kansas City voters approved a Charter amendment to increase the earnings tax to one percent; and
WHEREAS, Section 92.115 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri requires Kansas City voters to approve the continuation of the earnings tax at “the next general municipal election date immediately following November 2, 2010 and once every five years thereafter”; and
WHEREAS, Kansas City voters most recently approved renewal of the earnings tax in the general municipal election held on April 6, 2021; and
WHEREAS, the next general municipal election day is April 7, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Section 92.125 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri provides that if the City fails to place the issue on the April 2026 ballot, the earnings tax will be automatically phased out over ten years; NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. ELECTION CALLED. That a general municipal election is called and shall be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, for the purpose of submitting to the voters the question of whether to continue the imposition of the City’s current one-percent earnings tax for a period of five (5) years beginning January 1, 2027.
Section 2. BALLOT TITLE. The ballot title shall be:
QUESTION NO.
(Continuation of the Earnings Tax)
Shall the earnings tax of 1%, imposed by the City of Kansas City, be continued for a period of five (5) years commencing January 1 immediately following the date of this election?
____ Yes ____ No
Section 3. ELECTION NOTICE. That the notice of election shall read as follows:
NOTICE OF ELECTION
CITY OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
Notice is hereby given to the qualified voters of the City of Kansas City, Missouri, that the City Council of the City has called a general municipal election to be held in the City on April 7, 2026, commencing at 6:00 A.M. and closing at 7:00 P.M., on the question contained in the following sample ballot:
OFFICIAL BALLOT
CITY OF KANSAS CITY
GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION, APRIL 7, 2026
QUESTION
(Continuation of Earnings Tax)
Shall the earnings tax of 1%, imposed by the City of Kansas City, be continued for a period of five (5) years commencing January 1 immediately following the date of this election?
____ Yes ____ No
Instructions to voters will be supplied by the election authorities.
A complete copy of Ordinance No. _______ (as it may be amended) submitting the above question to the electorate is on file in the Office of the City Clerk of Kansas City, Missouri, and is open for inspection and copying.
The election will be held at the following polling places in the City of Kansas City, Missouri: [insert list in last publication only].
I hereby certify that the foregoing is the legal notice to be published pursuant to Section 115.127, RSMo., as amended.
Given under my hand and the official seal of the City of Kansas City, Missouri this ____ day of _______, 2026.
(SEAL) ___________________________
Marilyn Sanders
City Clerk of Kansas City, Missouri
Before me, a notary public, personally appeared Marilyn Sanders, to me known to be the City Clerk of Kansas City, Missouri, and the person who acknowledged to me that she executed the same for the purposes therein stated.
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Notary Public
My commission expires: ___________________
Section 4. NOTICE TO ELECTION AUTHORITIES BY CITY CLERK. That following the passage of this ordinance, the City Clerk shall deliver certified copies of this ordinance and notice of election to the Clerk of Cass County, Board of Election Commissioners of Clay County, Board of Election Commissioners of Kansas City, and Board of Election Commissioners of Platte County, not later than January 27, 2026, which shall be the authority of each election authority of the City to submit the question to the electors of Kansas City and to give public notice as provided by law.
Section 5. ACCELERATED EFFECTIVE DATE. This ordinance, providing for the submission of the continuation of the earnings tax to the people of Kansas City, Missouri, is hereby recognized to be an ordinance with an accelerated effective date within the meaning of Section 503(a)(3)(A) of the Charter because it calls for an election and provides for the submission of a question to the people; and as such shall become effective immediately following approval by the Mayor, or five days after passage if no action is taken by the Mayor to approve or veto the ordinance.
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Approved as to form:
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Samuel Miller
Assistant City Attorney