After a long and openly-divided debate that ran through four failed motions, the Unified Government Board of Commissioners voted 6 to 3 Thursday, Jul. 16, to notify the state of its intent exceed the revenue neutral rate. In a compromise to get to the legally required decision, the board capped […]
As it approaches the rocky shoals of budget season, the Unified Government will have an experienced hand at the tiller, with assistant county administrator Alan Howze appointed to run the government on an interim basis. At its Thursday, Jul. 2 meeting, the Board of Commissioners appointed Howze, a 10-year veteran […]
The Unified Government’s Economic Development and Finance Standing Committee voted Monday, June 29, to end nearly two years of negotiations with Eastside Innovation over redevelopment of the former Indian Springs Mall site. The committee also approved the details of a manger for the downtown grocery store agreement, and approved a […]
County Administrator David Johnston has resigned from the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, the UG announced this week. His departure takes effect Sunday, Jul. 5. Two of the top three executive staff positions are turning over at once, with this announcement following on the heels of […]
The Unified Government Board of Commissioners spent most of a five-hour meeting Wednesday, Jun. 24, walking through a six-year list of capital needs that far outstrips what the government can pay for, a sobering preview of the budget fight ahead. Before that workshop, commissioners approved a 15-lot subdivision near an […]
The Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools Board of Education voted 4-3 on Tuesday to declare its intent to exceed the revenue neutral rate for the 2026-27 budget, keeping the option of a property tax increase alive after more than two hours of tense debate, public threats of a recall, and […]
The Unified Government Board of Commissioners voted 8-2 to approve $2.66 million in one-time spending from American Royal funds at its meeting on Thursday, Jun. 18. The approved allocations send $1 million to grants for economic development and infrastructure, $1 million to repair and replace ditches through Public Works, $300 […]
The Unified Government Board of Commissioners spent nearly all of its June 4 meeting weighing the question of how to pay the workers who deliver county and city services in 2027 without forcing deep cuts or a property tax increase. With Mayor Christal Watson and Commissioners Melissa Bynum (At-Large District […]
The Unified Government Board of Commissioners worked through a fiscal-heavy agenda on May 21, setting solid waste fees, authorizing $66.9 million in new bonds, and clearing two land bank housing projects, all before the gavel fell ahead of 6:30 p.m. Three members were absent with memos, commissioners Jermaine Howard (District […]
A KCK family’s testimony about how they have maintained a vacant lot behind their home for seven years led the developer who applied to build there to voluntarily withdraw her bid Monday night, exposing a gap in Unified Government Land Bank policy. Mariah Caldwell told the Neighborhood and Community Development […]