IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
AN ORDINANCE submitting to the qualified voters of Jackson County, Missouri, at the general election to be held on April 7, 2026, a question to amend the Jackson County Charter, with an effective date.
Intro
ORDINANCE NO. 6059, February 2, 2026
INTRODUCED BY Sean E. Smith, County Legislator
Body
BE IT ORDAINED by the County Legislature of Jackson County, Missouri, as follows:
Section 1. There is hereby submitted to the qualified voters of Jackson County, Missouri for approval or disapproval one question to amend the Jackson County Charter, as set forth in this Ordinance, at the general municipal election to be held in Jackson County, Missouri, on the first Tuesday in April 2026.
Section 2. Subject to the approval of the qualified voters of Jackson County, Missouri, at the general election to be held on April 7, 2026, the Jackson County Charter is hereby amended with amended sections to read as follows:
ARTICLE III.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE
Section 6. The County Executive, in addition to other powers and duties provided in this charter, shall have the power to:
1. Appoint, subject to the County Legislature’s power of disapproval, directors of departments, officers not otherwise provided for, members of boards and commissions, and acting officers to fill any vacancy in any appointive or elective office, except that of County Legislator or the Legislative Auditor; the County Executive shall file written notice of such appointments with the Clerk of the County Legislature.
2. Employ experts and consultants in connection with any of the functions of the county, and ensure that all professional services contracts over $5,000, except in emergency situations, follow a competitive process to determine award of the contract.
3. Coordinate and supervise the work of the departments, officers and agencies of the county subject to his or her control.
4. Transfer employees from one department to another department to promote efficiency and economy. If the employee reports to the County Legislature, Legislative Auditor, Sheriff, Prosecuting Attorney, Assessor, or Circuit Court, the transfer shall require the approval of the Legislature, applicable office holder or presiding judge of the Circuit Court.
[Sections 5-12 remain unchanged]
ARTICLE V.
CHARTER OFFICERS
LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR
Section 16. The Jackson County Legislative Auditor shall be elected at the general municipal election in 2028, and every four years thereafter. The election shall be a non-partisan election. There will be a Primary Election in August of 2028 and every 4 years thereafter. The two candidates with the highest total votes in the Primary Election will both run against each other in the non-partisan General election to follow.
Section 17. The Legislative Auditor shall take office on January 1 following his or her election. The Legislative Auditor shall be a qualified voter and shall have been domiciled in the county for at least three years before assuming office. No Legislative Auditor may serve more than three consecutive terms commencing on or after January 1, 2029. The Legislative Auditor shall forfeit office if they:
1. Cease to be a qualified voter in Jackson County;
2. Remove his or her residence from Jackson County;
3. Hold any other federal, state, county or municipal elective office;
4. Owe federal income tax, Missouri state income tax, or Missouri local tax which remains unpaid for more than twelve months after such tax debt becomes final under the law of the jurisdiction assessing such tax, unless a payment plan to resolve such delinquency is in effect and is on current terms.
Section 17. The Legislative Auditor shall be in charge of and responsible for all duties as required by Federal and State laws and Jackson County Code, Chapter 2.
Section 18. The salary for the Legislative Auditor will be the same as the salary for Circuit Judges in the 16th Circuit of Jackson County.
Section 19. The operating budget for the Legislative Auditor’s Office shall be no less than 1% of the total general fund budget.
ARTICLE VIII.
FINANCES
AUDIT
Section 4. A continuing internal audit system shall be provided by the County Legislature. [The County Legislature shall appoint] A County Auditor shall be elected for a term of four years. [The County Auditor may be removed by a vote of two thirds of the County Legislature.] The Auditor shall have the powers and duties prescribed by law and by ordinance. The Auditor shall render to the County Legislature and the County Executive annual reports and such other reports as he or she shall deem advisable, or shall be required by ordinance.
Section 3. 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
APRIL 7, 2026
OFFICIAL BALLOT
Shall Articles III, IV, and V of the Jackson County Charter, adopted by vote on November 3, 1970, and as amended by public votes on August 8, 1978, April 2, 1985, November 4, 1986, August 2, 1994, August 3, 2010, November 6, 2018, and November 4, 2025 be amended to require that the Charter Office of the Jackson County Legislative Auditor no longer be a qualified appointee and instead be an elected position?
YES
NO
If you are in favor of the question, completely darken the oval beside the word "Yes."
If you are opposed to the question, completely darken the oval beside the word "No."
Section 4. If a majority of the qualified voters at said election shall vote in favor of the approval of any ballot question submitted by this Ordinance, the amended provisions related to that ballot question shall be binding and shall become effective January 1, 2029, subject to any transition provisions contained herein.
Section 5. The Clerk of the Legislature is hereby authorized and directed to notify the Jackson County and Kansas City Boards of Election Commissioners of the adoption of this Ordinance no later than 5 p.m. on January 27, 2026, and to include in said notification all of the terms and provisions required by 115.125 RSMo. Enacted and Approved
Effective Date: This Ordinance shall be effective upon its signature by the County Executive, and in accordance with Section 4 hereof.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
___________________________
County Counselor
I hereby certify that the attached ordinance, Ordinance No. 6059 introduced on February 2, 2026 was duly passed on ________________________, 2026 by the Jackson County Legislature. The votes thereon were as follows:
Yeas _______________ Nays ______________
Abstaining _______________ Absent _____________
This Ordinance is hereby transmitted to the County Executive for his signature.
____________________ ________________________________
Date Mary Jo Spino, Clerk of Legislature
I hereby approve the attached Ordinance No. 6059.
_________________ ________________________________
Date Phil LeVota, County Executive