Missouri voters decide on tax and county changes

Clay County, Missouri, voters are choosing between two local measures on election day.

The ballots include a public safety tax for the city of Kearney and a package of constitutional changes for the county.

Early voting took place at 100 W. Mississippi St. in Liberty and the Kearney Annunciation Center at 705 N. Jefferson Street in Kearney.

Proposition P proposes a half-cent sales tax dedicated to public safety and law enforcement in Kearney.

Sgt. Phil LaManna of the Kearney Police Department said the revenue will fund officer retention and recruitment.

He stated that the tax aims to reduce overtime costs and ensure adequate backup staffing for increased call volume.

LaManna noted that Kearney’s starting salary for police officers is $55,000.

He said surrounding departments with similar taxes offer salaries that are $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 higher.

"You can go 10 minutes down the road in every direction and you’re making $10,000, $15,000, $20,000 more than you would here in Kearney," LaManna said.

The tax would generate approximately $900,000 annually in addition to the police department’s current budget.

If approved, the tax would begin on April 1, 2027, and expire after 25 years.

LaManna clarified that the measure is a sales tax, not a property tax, and does not apply to prescription medication, gasoline, or utilities. "Proposition P is not a property tax, it is a sales tax, and it also does not include prescription medication, gasoline, or utilities here in town," LaManna said. He added that Kearney is currently the 10th safest city in Missouri. "We have good quality officers out there right now, and we want to be able to keep that," LaManna said. He explained that spending decisions would be approved by the Kearney Board of Aldermen if the measure passes. Proposition A asks Clay County voters to adopt a package of amendments to the county’s constitution. The recommendations come from the county’s Constitution Review Commission. The ballot presents the changes as a single yes-or-no vote rather than separate questions. Terry Powell, a Liberty voter who cast an early ballot, said she was uncomfortable with the combined format. "I don’t like them doing that," Powell said. She stated she preferred the measure be broken into separate questions because some changes appealed to her while others did not. Franklin Bridges, another Liberty voter, expressed concerns about provisions related to pay and authority. "I’m uncomfortable when you talk about everybody getting a pay increase," Bridges said. He noted that the amendments also involve having a lot more authority.