Sparring Assured In PD Expansion

Kansas City, MO – Not one, but two proposals are now on the table to maintain and grow the Kansas City Police Department into the next decade and beyond.

The department's governing board today started looking at Chief Jim Corwin's plan for a renewed public safety sales tax.

When Mayor Mark Funkhouser unwrapped his own plan. His has a $241 Million price tag, 17 million lower than Corwin's. Each has its own variables. The Chief's proposal would renovate headquarters, build a new crime Lab and replace the radio system, among other things, all worth multiple millions. Funkhouser's would hire a hundred more officers.

City council has six weeks to decide about putting the tax renewal on the November ballot. The tax could generate upwards of $240 million over 15 years.