IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
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AN ORDINANCE submitting to the qualified voters of Jackson County, Missouri, at a General Election to be held on November 5, 2024, a question authorizing Jackson County to impose a countywide capital improvement sales tax of one-eighth of one percent for a period of twenty-five years for the purpose of retaining the Kansas City Chiefs sports team in Jackson County, Missouri.
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ORDINANCE NO. 5860 June 17, 2024
INTRODUCED BY Manuel Abarca IV, County Legislator
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WHEREAS, the Kansas City Chiefs Football Club is a County and area-wide asset that has made and will continue to make significant contributions to the economic well-being and quality of life in Jackson County and the Kansas City metropolitan area; and,
WHEREAS, this professional league team has been the County’s tenant at Arrowhead Stadium at the Harry S. Truman Sports Complex since the early 1970s; and,
WHEREAS, improvements to and modernization of Arrowhead Stadium is necessary to ensure that the stadium is in nationally competitive physical condition in the marketplace of professional sports, for the foreseeable future; and,
WHEREAS, to achieve a development plan to make the stadium nationally competitive and to guarantee the teams' continued presence in Jackson County, representatives of the team, the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority, and the County have been working diligently to negotiate and develop a plan for improvements and additions to the existing Arrowhead Stadium for the Chiefs, in Jackson County, Missouri; and,
WHEREAS, as an express condition of negotiating possible financial support of the stadium, Jackson County, Missouri, requires and is negotiating (a) a lease and development agreement with the Chiefs which incorporates the terms and conditions under which the Chiefs will develop, renovate, furnish, equip, repair, maintain, operate, and occupy Arrowhead Stadium, and (b) one or more community benefits agreements with the Chiefs set forth the terms and conditions under which the team will financially support and engage in programming designed to create opportunities that will serve and advance the interests and vitality of, among others, the residents, youth, labor, minority and women enterprises, workforce, economies, and communities of Jackson County; and,
WHEREAS, subject to the foregoing express conditions, Jackson County, Missouri, has determined that stadium park improvement funding utilizing a countywide capital improvement sales tax at the rate of one-eighth of one percent (1/8%) for a period of twenty-five years from the date first imposed is appropriate and the most effective means of funding the stadium; and,
WHEREAS, the County has determined that, subject to the team agreeing to enter into lease, development, and community benefits agreements, a new countywide capital improvement sales tax to commence upon the expiration or termination of the existing sales tax and to continue for a period of 25 years, for stadium park improvements to retain the Chiefs in the County is in the best interests of the health, welfare and safety of the citizens of Jackson County; now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED by the County Legislature of Jackson County, Missouri, as follows:
Section 1. Contingent upon the Chiefs agreeing to enter into a lease agreement, development agreement, and one or more community benefits agreements acceptable to the County, subject to plans of development, improvement of Arrowhead Stadium, and further subject to approval by the voters of the County, the levy of a countywide capital improvement sales tax in the amount of one-eighth (1/8) of one cent (0.125), is hereby authorized for and within Jackson County, Missouri.
Section 2. The current tax levy, as approved by voters on April 4, 2006, will expire on September 30, 2031. Subject to the approval of the voters of the County, the new levy will begin October 1, 2031, and continue for a term of 25 years, the duration of the proposed lease with the Chiefs which governs the Chiefs’ long-term use, repair, maintenance, operation, and occupancy of Arrowhead Stadium, in Jackson County.
Section 3. Subject to the foregoing and pursuant to the provisions of Section 67.700, RSMo, there is hereby submitted to the qualified voters of Jackson County, Missouri, General Election to be held on November 5, 2024, a question authorizing the imposition of a countywide capital improvement sales tax of one-eighth of one percent (1/8%), for the purpose of providing funding for park improvements consisting of Arrowhead Stadium and its surrounds, in Jackson County.
Section 4. The qualified voters at said election shall vote by ballot and the ballots to be used at said election shall contain the following language:
JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
QUESTION # __1__
GENERAL ELECTION
NOVEMBER 5, 2024
OFFICIAL BALLOT
Shall the County of Jackson impose a new countywide capital improvement sales tax of one-eighth (1/8) of one percent, for a period of 25 years from the date first imposed, to provide funding for park improvements, consisting of (1) developing, furnishing, equipping, repairing, maintaining, and operating Arrowhead Stadium and its surrounds, to retain the Kansas City Chiefs Football Club in Jackson County, Missouri?
Section 5. This Ordinance shall be published as required by law.
Section 6. The Clerk of the Legislature is hereby authorized and directed to notify the Jackson County Board of Election Commissioners and the Kansas City Board of Election Commissioners of the adoption of this Ordinance no later than August 27, 2024, by 5:00 p.m. and to include in said notification all the terms and provisions required by Section 115.125, RSMo 2016.
Section 7. The County is hereby authorized to be reimbursed its costs incurred in connection with the November 5, 2024, election out of the proceeds of the tax once authorized.
Enacted and Approved
Effective Date: This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its signature by the County Executive.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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County Counselor
I hereby certify that the attached Ordinance, Ordinance No. 5860 introduced on June 17, 2024, failed on July 29, 2024 by the Jackson County Legislature. The votes thereon were as follows:
Yeas ______1_________ Nays ______8________
Abstaining _____0______ Absent ______0_______
This Ordinance is hereby transmitted to the County Executive for his signature.
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Date Mary Jo Spino, Clerk of Legislature
I hereby approve the attached Ordinance No. 5860.
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Date Frank White, Jr., County Executive