City Of Kansas City: New Budget Focuses On Public Safety, Affordable Housing And Neighborhoods

Press release from the City of Kansas City:

02/10/2022 2:05 PM

Mayor Quinton Lucas and City Manager Brian Platt have submitted to the City Council a fiscal year 2022-2023 budget that continues significant improvements to essential services such as street repair and resurfacing, cleaning up trash and litter, and snow removal, while also making key investments in emphasizing public safety through community policing, affordable housing, public safety, and energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives. The $1.9 billion submitted budget increases from the current year’s $1.73 billion budget due to federal COVID relief funds. The proposed budget fully funds the new Housing and Community Development Department, with a focus on tenant advocacy, creation and retention of affordable housing, and homelessness prevention. This includes $12.5 million for the Housing Trust Fund (the second half of the promised $25 million), $2.5 million for the Tenants Right to Counsel Program, and $40 million in additional funding for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (funded through federal sources). These programs are just some of the ways we are responding to the priorities expressed by our residents. “Over the last two years, we’ve made important investments in road resurfacing, expanded trash collection, and Kansas City’s first-in-the-nation Zero Fare Transit initiative,” Mayor Lucas said. “Work to expand the Kansas City Streetcar to UMKC and to complete a new airport terminal is well underway — and continues to proceed on time and on budget, with more than 120 minority and women-owned businesses participating in the project. “But there is still critical work to be done to rebuild our roads, bridges, and sewers; increase access to public transit and broadband; make our city more resilient against the impacts of climate change; and invest in neighborhoods and communities that have been left behind too often by federal, state, and local officials." The second phase of the American Rescue Plan provides $97.4 million in grant revenue, which will replace revenues lost due to the pandemic, as well as invest in neighborhoods, affordable housing solutions, community policing and violence prevention, and technology infrastructure to ensure efficient delivery of city services. “We have not yet recovered from the economic impacts of the pandemic and began this budget cycle facing another $70 million shortfall,” said City Manager Brian Platt. “We have not only managed to close this gap while expanding and increasing service delivery in many ways, but we are also making key investments to technology and infrastructure to build a strong foundation for the future.” The proposed budget provides approximately $37.4 million in additional funding for the Kansas City Police Department above the state-mandated 20 percent of the City budget’s operating fund. These dollars will support community policing and crime prevention while adding accountability measures, and include: 150 new police officers

Increased pay for officers and civilian staff

$12.4 million to fund the Violent Crimes Division, which includes Special Victims, Domestic Violence, Sex Crimes, Homicide, Robbery, and Assault units. This funding would also offer resources to the survivors and families impacted by violent crime

$6.6 million to fund the communications unit and increased pay for 911 call-takers The recommended police budget is $4.5 million more than its current budget. Public Safety, which includes police, fire and municipal court, accounts for about 72 percent of the operating budget.  This submitted budget boosts Public Works to $145 million, an increase of $2.7 million to repair more than 300 roadway lane miles. We recommend increasing Bike Share KC funding by $125,000 to a total of nearly $300,000 to expand mobility options and programming. Additionally, Kansas City residents can look forward to cleaner and healthier neighborhoods with new funding for litter cleanup ($600,000), additional snow removal vehicles ($600,000), dangerous buildings demolition ($2M), four new street sweepers ($2.2M), expanded bulky item pickups ($650,000), and an increased tree planting budget (+$250,000) while also increasing KC Parks mowing cycles from 16 to 22 this summer. Neighborhoods will also see resident-requested projects with $10 million recommended for the new Rebuild KC program. The budget also includes funding to increase salary scales for employees. This will improve retention and recruitment for the city’s workforce and follow a recommendation from the recent employee market pay study, which shows that that city employees have been compensated at below-market rates. The City is increasing revenue through better EMS billing and parking control, as well as cutting costs by renegotiating existing contracts and reducing rent paid by consolidating office spaces. The budget transmittal letter is available online, along with the entire proposed budget. The public is invited to attend the citywide public hearings to provide feedback on the proposed budget to elected officials and city staff: Saturday, February 19, from 9am – 12pm, virtual

Wednesday, February 23, from 6pm – 8:30pm, in person and virtual, City Hall, 26th floor Council Chambers. Free parking validation in Wolfe Garage at 1100 Oak St.

Saturday, March 5, from 9am – 12pm, virtual For links to the virtual meetings and to read the full budget, visit KCMO.gov/budget. The budget will be adopted by the City Council in late March. The new fiscal year starts May 1, 2022. Media questions may be directed to Maggie Green, 816-379-6562.

This press release was produced by the City of Kansas City. The views expressed here are the author’s own.