Vote ‘No’ on Amendment 4 to Defend Local Control in Kansas

Imagine waking up one day to discover that people who don’t live in your city, who may have never been there, suddenly have the power to decide how approximately $40 million of your city’s tax dollars are spent. But that’s not a bad dream — it’s the reality Kansas City will face if Amendment 4 passes on August 6.

As the mayor of Kansas City, I have seen firsthand the challenges our community faces and the innovative solutions we have developed to address them. But because the state of Missouri refuses to give our city control over our police department, we must address our public safety challenges with one hand tied behind our backs. Amendment 4 attempts to tie our other hand as well. It threatens to undermine our ability to address the unique needs of our city, which is why I urge you to vote “No” on August 6.

What’s at stake?

Amendment 4 proposes to increase the minimum funding the City of Kansas City must allocate to the police department from 20% to 25% of our general revenues. This may sound like a small change, but it would cost our taxpayers an additional $40 million each year — money that could otherwise support our firefighters, maintain our parks, or repair our roads.

Let me be clear: I have always supported our police department. Since I became mayor in 2019, I have voted to increase the police budget every year. This year alone, I increased the starting salaries of officers from $50,000 to $65,000. Our current police budget is 20% higher than when I took office.

But here’s the crux of the matter: Amendment 4 isn’t about supporting the police. It’s about giving more power to Jefferson City officials and taking power away from you through your local elections.

The Anti-Kansas City (and Anti-Local Government) Agenda

Currently, Kansas City is unique in Missouri — and indeed in the nation — in that our police department is governed by a state-appointed board rather than by locally elected officials. This system dilutes the voices of Kansas City residents in determining our public safety priorities.

There’s also a financial component to the system. Kansas City has to write KCPD a blank check for over $200 million each year, which represents 20 percent of our general revenue. We can’t demand that the police spend it responsibly by, say, raising officer salaries, improving community policing, reducing 911 wait times, or investing in advanced crime prevention technologies. We write a check and hope for the best.

We can, and often do, spend more than 20% of general revenue on KCPD. But spending that extra money is our choice. We evaluate our city’s priorities and needs, ask KCPD what they would do with additional non-mandated funding, and decide whether or not to spend our money on policing.

Amendment 4 would end even that limited exercise of local control. It would increase mandatory funding from 20% to 25%, forcing us to act regardless of the changing needs or priorities of our city. It’s a power grab disguised as a public safety measure.

This isn’t just a Kansas City issue. If Amendment 4 passes, it will set a dangerous precedent. Today it’s Kansas City. Tomorrow it could be Springfield, Nixa or Ozark. The fundamental principle of local government — that communities should have the power to decide their own affairs — is at stake.

Why I Say “No” and You Should Too

When you enter the voting booth on August 6, you will not just be deciding on a budget allocation. You will be deciding on the future of local control in Missouri.

A “No” vote on Amendment 4 is a vote for local control and accountability. It is a vote for flexible, responsive city budgeting. And it is a vote that affirms that local people should determine the future of their community, not unelected Jefferson City appointees.

Two years ago, Kansas City residents rejected the same measure by 61 percent. But voters across the state, many unfamiliar with the complexities of our local government, were misled into approving it. The Missouri Supreme Court overturned that vote because of misleading language. Now we have another chance to make our voices heard.

As the Mayor of Kansas City, I ask you to join me in voting “No” on Amendment 4. Let’s send a clear message that we believe in local solutions to local problems and that we trust our communities to govern themselves.

The future of our city – and the principle of local government throughout Missouri – depends on it.

Quinton Lucas is the mayor of Kansas City.

This article originally appeared on the Springfield News-Leader: Lucas: A ‘Yes’ vote on Missouri Amendment 4 threatens local democracy

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