West Plains, MO. – This is part 3 of our 5-part Election Day Breakdown on the four Amendments and the Constitutional Question that will be on ballots this Election Day, November 8, 2022. In this article, we will discuss Amendment 4.
What is Amendment 4?
Amendment 4 is a bill that would mandate the minimum police budget for the Kansas City Police Departments be 25% of the city budget.
https://www.senate.mo.gov/22info/pdf-bill/perf/SJR38.pdf
Official Ballot Title:
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to authorize laws, passed before December 31, 2026, that increase minimum funding for a police force established by a state board of police commissioners to ensure such police force has additional resources to serve its communities?
State and local governmental entities estimate no additional costs or savings related to this proposal.
Fair Ballot Language:
A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to allow the general assembly by law to increase the minimum funding for a police force established by the state board of police commissioners to ensure such police force has additional resources to serve its communities. Currently the only police force established by the state board of police commissioners is found in Kansas City, Missouri.
A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution regarding the funding for a police force established by the state board of police commissioners.
If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.
Who supports/introduced this legislation?
Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer (R-Platte) introduced the bill. The bill passed the senate 23 yes 10 no 1 other with senators of both parties having members vote for and against the bill. The senators that represent the major Kansas City metropolitan area are divided on this vote, and largely along party lines. The House was divided over the vote as well 104 yes 44 no 9 other.
Luetkemeyer proposed the bill after Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and the City Council attempted to move $42 million in funding to community intervention programs. The mayor argues that the funding mandate will not lead to new police officers hired but is “politicizing policing” and not offering solutions.
What is the current funding of the Kansas City Police?
Currently, the city’s police budget is over the mandatory 20% of the city’s budget. 20% would be $154 million and it currently sits at $189 million, or 24.5%. The 25% would increase the budget to $193 million. Kansas City, as of 2021, employees 1,259 police officers.
Why does the state legislature have control over Kansas City Police funding?
This law has been in effect since 1939 at a time when corruption was high in Kansas City officials and police. Since the removal of those people, Kansas City natives have been attempting to bring control over the funding back to Kansas City, but it would take an act of the state legislature or an initiative petition to put it to a statewide vote.
State legislators attempted to pass a bill that would force the city to raise the funding of the police, but Kansas City sued, saying the measure was unconstitutional. Amendment 4 would allow the forced increase of police funding without the need for state legislators to dedicate state funds to Kansas City for the increase.
What do other cities spend?
The nearest city of similar size to Kansas City would be Omaha, Nebraska. Omaha has just over 900 police officers and has police funding of $178 Million.
