Here’s why Missourians will vote on Kansas City’s police budget in November election

This November, in addition to voting on recreational marijuana and picking a new senator, Missouri voters will also weigh in on a ballot initiative about police funding in Kansas City.

Voters across the state will have the chance to approve a constitutional amendment that would expand the state’s power over Kansas City’s policing budget. Though all Missouri voters will get to vote on the amendment, it will only affect Kansas City.

The amendment was designed to allow the enforcement of a state law signed in June that would force Kansas City to spend a higher percentage of its own city revenue on policing.

The law likely will not be able to take effect unless voters approve the constitutional amendment. It is now also the subject of a lawsuit from Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, who argues that it would result in cuts to other city programs if enforced.

The amendment vote on the November ballot is separate from this June law, but they’re connected. Here’s a breakdown.

First thing’s first: What does the state have to do with Kansas City’s police spending?

The debate around Kansas City’s local control of its own police force has been ongoing for years.

Right now, state law says that Kansas City must spend 20% of its revenue on policing.

KCPD is the only police force in Missouri overseen by a state board and with state control over its budget—that’s because of a law from way back in 1939.

This is the reason why the amendment vote’s outcome will only affect Kansas City, even though voters across Missouri will weigh in.

Four members of the state board that oversees KCPD are appointed by the governor, and the mayor has a seat on the board as well.

How did state lawmakers try to change Kansas City’s police budget?

Earlier this summer, Missouri lawmakers passed a bill that would increase the amount of city revenue that needs to go to KCPD from 20% to 25%.

However, the law likely will not be able to take effect unless voters approve the constitutional amendment.

Here’s why: The Missouri Constitution says that the state is not allowed to give mandates to cities without providing any funding to carry out those mandates.

Opponents of the June law say it does exactly that, forcing Kansas City to increase police funding without providing any state money to do so.

So what does the amendment have to do with that police spending law?

The proposed amendment would add an exception to the state constitution for police budget minimums. This would cement the state’s power to enforce that June law that increases the percent of money that Kansas City needs to spend on the KCPD.

By voting on the amendment, voters will indirectly decide whether the law is constitutional.

What will the ballot initiative actually say?

Here’s the full text of the question that will appear on your Missouri ballot under the title Amendment 4:

“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to authorize laws, passed before December 31, 2026, that increase minimum funding for a police force established by a state board of police commissioners to ensure such police force has additional resources to serve its communities?”

A “yes” vote supports the state’s power to enforce the June law increasing KCPD funding.

A “no” vote opposes the state’s power to enforce the June law, but would not bring KCPD funding under city government control. That would require repealing a law from 1939.

What will happen if the amendment passes?

If Amendment 4 passes, the June law is likely to go into effect. This would raise the minimum amount of money Kansas City is required to spend on police, which local officials say will take money away from other city programs.

The city currently spends 24.3% of its revenue on policing, which is more than the current 20% requirement. Raising that amount to 25% would cost the city around $37.8 million, the city estimates.

What will happen if the amendment fails?

If the amendment fails, the June law will likely continue to face legal challenges. It will likely remain on the books, but may never go into effect. That means the current 20% minimum police budget would remain.

The city could continue choosing to spend more than 20% of its revenue on policing, but still would not be able to spend less than that.

The Star’s Kacen Bayless and Glenn Rice contributed reporting.

Do you have more questions about what’s coming up in the November election? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.