Current:Home > StocksCounty legislators override executive, ensuring a vote for potential KC stadium funding-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
County legislators override executive, ensuring a vote for potential KC stadium funding
View Date:2025-01-11 08:35:05
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Legislators in Jackson County, Missouri, voted Monday to override the veto of Jackson County Executive Frank White and place the renewal of a sales tax on the April ballot to help fund a new ballpark for the Kansas City Royals.
The tax of three-eighth of a cent, which is used under the current lease agreement for stadium upkeep at the Truman Sports Complex, also would help pay for future renovations to Arrowhead Stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs.
As recently as last week, it appeared there would not be enough votes to override the veto. But legislators Jalen Anderson and Sean Smith changed their minds after an outpouring of public pressure, and after continued negotiations with the teams, and the result was a 7-2 vote in favor of advancing the proposal to the April 2 ballot.
“I am grateful that so many of my colleagues joined me in voting the overturn,” said Jackson County legislator DaRon McGee, who called White’s decision to veto the proposal “tone deaf” by taking away the rights of voters to make their own decisions.
White was a five-time All-Star for the Royals and is a member of their Hall of Fame.
“Thanks to overwhelming support from our citizens, including business, labor, nonprofit and other community organizations, we prevailed, and can now proceed to do the important work ahead,” McGee said. “There is much work to do so that the voters are fully informed before the April election. I join my colleagues in saying we are prepared to do that work.”
Legislators initially voted 8-1 to approve ballot language for the tax, but White said in vetoing it that “it’s not a good deal for taxpayers” because it did not provide enough assurance of the franchises’ commitment to the county.
The Royals and Chiefs released a joint statement after White’s veto that said they respected his authority but that “we will continue working with the legislators to ensure that this ordinance is on the ballot.” The teams also ramped up their social and traditional media campaigns for public support, and they had support of many commerce groups and labor unions.
“We took an important step forward today,” the teams said in a statement Monday. “We thank Jackson County legislators for their attention and care in this matter. We look forward to continuing to work with them and enabling the voters to decide on extending the longstanding partnership between the county and our teams on April 2.”
The Royals had been weighing competing offers from Jackson County and Clay County, which sits just across the Missouri River, for locations for their new ballpark. They intended to make their decision in September but pushed it back indefinitely, and only in recent weeks have said they plan to build in Jackson County.
They still have not decided on a site, though. The initial plan was to build in an area known as the East Village, but they are also considering a location closer to the Power & Light District, where there are existing shops and restaurants.
veryGood! (568)
Related
- 25 monkeys caught but more still missing after escape from research facility in SC
- Chappell Roan cancels 2 festival performances: 'Things have gotten overwhelming'
- Opinion: Learning signs of mental health distress may help your young athlete
- Meghan Trainor talks touring with kids, her love of T-Pain and learning self-acceptance
- Target will be closed on Thanksgiving: Here’s when stores open on Black Friday
- Georgia-Alabama leads Top 25 matchups leading seven college football games to watch in Week 5
- Rescuers save and assist hundreds as Helene’s storm surge and rain create havoc
- Walz has experience on a debate stage pinning down an abortion opponent’s shifting positions
- 2025 NFL mock draft: QBs Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward crack top five
- Woman loses over 700 pounds of bologna after Texas border inspection
Ranking
- Former Disney Star Skai Jackson Is Pregnant, Expecting First Baby With Her Boyfriend
- Chappell Roan drops out of All Things Go music festival: ‘Things have gotten overwhelming’
- Sean Diddy Combs Accused of Rape and Impregnating a Woman in New Lawsuit
- Walz has experience on a debate stage pinning down an abortion opponent’s shifting positions
- How Saturday Night Live Reacted to Donald Trump’s Win Over Kamala Harris
- Plaintiffs won’t revive federal lawsuit over Tennessee’s redistricting maps
- Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Alum Kim Richards Gets Into Confrontation With Sister Kyle Richards
- Bad Bunny Looks Unrecognizable With Hair Transformation on Caught Stealing Set
Recommendation
-
Best fits for Corbin Burnes: 6 teams that could match up with Cy Young winner
-
Vance exuded calm during a tense debate stage moment. Can he keep it up when he faces Walz?
-
The Special Reason Hoda Kotb Wore an M Necklace While Announcing Today Show Exit
-
How to watch 'The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon - The Book of Carol': Premiere, cast, streaming
-
Inspector general finds no fault in Park Police shooting of Virginia man in 2017
-
A TV reporter was doing a live hurricane report when he rescued a woman from a submerged car
-
Anthropologie’s Extra 50% off Sale Includes Stylish Dresses, Tops & More – Starting at $9, Save Up to 71%
-
Allison Holker Shares How Her 3 Kids Met Her New Boyfriend Adam Edmunds