Northeast News
August 8, 2012

Kansas City voters overwhelmingly passed Questions 1 and 2 during the Aug. 7 election.

Question 1 passed by a margin of 63 percent to 37 percent and Question 2 passed with a vote of 80 percent to 20 percent.

Question 1 will take effect in January and changes the way the Kansas City parks system, street maintenance and repairs are funded. Question 1 will eliminate several fees and taxes including: the traffic way maintenance tax, the park and boulevard maintenance tax, the boulevard front foot assessment tax and the annual vehicle fee of $12.50 to fund community centers. To replace those taxes a half-cent sales tax will be established.

The tax will create a stable revenue source for enhancing the parks system’s services as well as creating a dedicated fund for street repair and maintenance. In addition, the tax will double the revenue of the street maintenance fund, bringing the total to about $20 million annually.

Question 2 will allow the city to borrow $500 million in revenue bonds to address new federal mandates regarding the city’s current sewage and storm water system. The additional revenue will also allow the city to provide sanitary sewers to growing areas of Kansas City. Sewer rates are expected to increase by 15 percent for two years followed by 13 percent increases every year until 2020.

In other election news, Missouri voters passed the Missouri constitutional amendment which states that Missouri citizens have the right to express their religious beliefs without being infringed upon; that school children have the right to pray and acknowledge God voluntarily in schools ; and that all public schools shall display the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution.

Winners of the Missouri primary election include (unofficial results):

Attorney General
Chris Koster, Democrat; Dave Browning, Libertarian; Ed Martin, Republican

Governor
Jay Nixon, Democrat; Jim Higgins, Libertarian; Dave Spence, Republican

Lt. Governor
Susan Montee Democrat; Matthew Copple, Libertarian; Peter Kinder, Republican

Secretary of State
Jason Kander, Democrat; Cisse Spragins, Libertarian; Shane Schoeller, Republican

Treasurer
Clint Zweifel, Democrat; Sean O’Toole, Libertarian; Cole McNary, Republican

Missouri House 19th District
John Joseph Rizzo, Democrat

Missouri House 23rd District
Randy Dunn, Democrat

Missouri Senate 7th District
Jason Holsman, Democrat

Jackson County elections (unofficial results):
Jackson County Prosecutor
Jean Peters-Baker, Democrat

Jackson County Sheriff
Mike Sharp, Democrat