Kansas City School Bond Measure (August 2010)

Not on Ballot
This measure was not put on an election ballot

There will not be a Kansas City School Bond Measure on the August ballot in Kansas City which is in Platte, Clay, Cass and Jackson counties.

This measure was killed in committee, no member voted for it and that means full city council will not hear the issue and it did not appear on the August ballot.

Background

The bond measure was proposed by the Kansas City Mayor, Mark Funkhouser and still needs council approval before it can be added onto a proposed ballot for voters to decide on. His plan though is to ask voters to approve a $100 million bond, which would not increase taxes because the repayments would take the place of another tax. Also, Funkhouser would propose to renew the safety sales tax measure which is due to expire in August. This would all be to help the Kansas City area schools, improving the areas around the schools so as to make them more safe and kid friendly. Funkhouser's goal is to try to keep families from leaving the city due to bad school environments. His plan also entails cleaning up graffiti in school areas and setting up a few staff members to directly help with school needs. Locating grants to help underprivileged kids is another part of his plan as well. When Funkhouser proposed hi idea, he was supported by the city Police Chief Jim Corwin and also by Landon Rowland who is the chairman of the Local Investment Commission in Kansas City that has been providing before and after school programs for kids for around 80 schools.

Funkhouser gave his proposal speech, called the Schools First Initiative at a local unitarian church. He laid out his plans for the initiative, adding that the main goal of the initiative would be to increase safety and upgrade the infrastructure around the schools. Funkhouser stressed that he did not want to interfere in the running of the schools, just wanted the city to be able to help do their part to make them better. The large exodus from the city is the main reason for this initiative, a way to get people to stay.

Funkhouser stated that the main goal of this initiative was to bring those taxpayers back to the city from the suburbs. By improving the areas around local schools there is more incentive to raise children and not move, adding to the city tax base. He wants people to stay in the city, otherwise there is no growth and the city would go through further declines.

The Kansas City Chamber of Commerce voted unanimously to not support the Mayor's bond proposal, but regardless the mayor insisted on trying to push ahead his plans though no specific supporters have been noted by the mayor.

See also

• Kansas City Star, "Funkhouser touts his Schools First plan at Sprint Center," May 17, 2010 (dead link)
• KMBC, "Mayor's Schools First Effort Dies In Committee," May 13, 2010 (dead link)