Voters around the Kansas City metro head to the polls Tuesday. Here's an overview of some of the issues on ballots in the area:
Jackson County
Question 1 asks voters to decide whether to raise the sales tax a half-cent to pay for medical research. The proposed plan would be targeted at translational medicine, which takes scientific research and turns it into a treatment. The tax would raise an estimated $800 million over 20 years. The money would be shared by UMKC, Children’s Mercy Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospitals.
Blue Springs
The city of Blue Springs is asking voters to approve a permanent, half-cent sales tax to help pay for parks. It’s estimated to raise $3 million a year for the parks, including a new recreation center.
Clay County
Clay County is considering whether to change the structure of its government. The proposed Clay County Constitution would convert the three-member County Commission into a seven-member council and make all elections non-partisan. It would also give Clay County home-rule.
Liberty School District
The Liberty District is proposing an increase in property taxes to pay for facilities and technology upgrades. The proposal increases the tax levy by $0.36 per $100 of assessed value.
Olathe
Voters in Olathe aren’t heading to the polls on Tuesday, but they may be looking at a ballot anyway. A mail-in ballot on a proposed sales tax is due November 12. Voters are being asked to raise the city’s sales tax by three-eighths of a sent to help pay for street maintenance.
