Latest news with #JacksonCountyLegislature
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Jackson County unanimously passes 2025 budget Monday
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The 2025 Jackson County budget was unanimously approved on Monday – six months into the year. The county budget was supposed to be finalized in December 2024. After the Jackson County Legislature approved the 2025 budget on Dec. 31, 2024, it was vetoed by White. Less than two weeks ago, on May 30, White announced that a major budget compromise had been reached. Then on Monday, June 9, 2025, the amended budget was finally approved 9-0. Kansas City's Country Club Plaza struggles with closures and empty shops White said it restores critical services and delivers historic investments in community needs, including public safety, affordable housing, nonprofit support and health equity. 'While this process took longer than any of us wanted, I'm grateful that we've reached an agreement that responds to the real and pressing needs of our community,' White said in a news release. White said Legislative Chairman DaRon McGee, Budget Chair Charlie Franklin and Vice Chair Donna Peyton were leaders in 'crafting a path forward that protects vital services while expanding support for those most in need.' White said the 2025 adopted budget restores critical funding and reinvests in services that residents rely on every day. He said key highlights of the adopted budget include: Restoration of Essential Funding: Reinstates millions of dollars to prevent layoffs and maintain services in critical departments, including the sheriff's office and county counselor's office. Expanded Support for Nonprofits: Doubles outside agency funding from $3 million to $6 million, overseen by the Legislature, to assist nonprofit partners addressing housing, food insecurity, youth services, violence prevention and more. Strategic Use of Marijuana Sales Tax Revenue: Allocates more than $10 million in voter-approved revenue to fund initiatives such as affordable housing, broadband expansion, health equity and enhanced nonprofit funding. Chairman McGee also said the budget includes $500,000 in additional funding for the prosecutor's office to enhance property crimes enforcement and expand witness advocates – as well as $1 million for broadband access. 'Today, the Jackson County Legislature finalized its 2025 budget, and I want to celebrate the collaborative effort that brought the proposal through much turmoil and over the finish line—balancing fiscal responsibility with real investments in people and public safety,' McGee said in a news release Monday. 'While there remains work to do, this budget reflects progress and restores our focus on serving the people of Jackson County.' White said the adopted budget not only addresses urgent needs but also lays the groundwork for long-term community impact. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV 'I want to thank our county associates and my team for their hard work behind the scenes,' he said. 'Their steady focus and deep commitment to serving the people of Jackson County played a vital role in making today's unanimous passage possible.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jackson County budget still undecided as officials' frustrations grow
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jackson County officials have yet to decide on the 2025 budget, leaving it up in the air, as it has been since January. No decisions were made when legislators met Wednesday morning. 'So today, not much has changed. We've heard kind of a justification as to why things need to change quickly for the prosecutor leading into the summer, which we hear not just from the prosecutor, we hear from our outside agencies, we hear from contractors who haven't been paid,' said 1st District Legislator Manny Abarca. As crime rises in Kansas City, Mayor Lucas prepares for trip to Qatar Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson shared the impact of not having a solidified budget. She said it's impacting the preventive work of agencies funded through COMBAT, the Community-Backed Anti-Crime Tax. 'They're taking out loans, they're laying people off, they're limiting the amount of people that they serve,' Johnson said during Wednesday's meeting. On December 31, 2024, the Jackson County Legislature approved this year's budget. However, it was vetoed by County Executive Frank White. The legislature has not passed a new one since, and the county has been operating without an approved budget. Legislator Manny Abarca says the disagreement has to do with budgets for the assessment department, the board of equalization, and the collections department. 'We're kind of stuck at the moment, trying to figure out how we move forward. We just had conversations about how we do amendments and how we make changes. But fundamentally, the County Executive disagrees on a lot of our approach here,' Abarca explained. The Jackson County Legislature is expected to discuss the 2025 budget again on Thursday morning. The agenda says, 'There may be an ordinance introduced regarding the 2025 budget.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
