Ballot Measures: Kearney Seeks Sales Tax For Police Pay, Clay County Votes On Constitution Changes

Kearney residents will determine the city’s police funding strategy on Tuesday, while Clay County voters weigh a bundle of structural changes to their local government. Two distinct measures appear on the ballot, each with different implications for local finances and governance. Early voting is currently underway at 100 W. Mississippi St. in Liberty and at the Kearney Annunciation Center at 705 N. Jefferson Street.

Proposition P proposes a half-cent sales tax dedicated strictly to public safety and law enforcement within Kearney city limits. Sgt. Phil LaManna of the Kearney Police Department stated the revenue would primarily target officer retention and the recruitment of qualified candidates. He noted that the additional funds would also reduce reliance on overtime and ensure adequate staffing for backup officers amid rising call volumes.

LaManna identified a compensation disparity as the driving force behind the measure. He said Kearney’s starting salary for police officers is $55,000, a figure he described as uncompetitive compared to surrounding departments that already utilize public safety sales taxes. "You can go 10 minutes down the road in every direction and you’re making $10,000, $15,000, $20,000 more than you would here in Kearney," LaManna said. He added that all agencies compete from the same pool of applicants.

The proposed tax would generate approximately $900,000 annually, added to the existing police department budget. LaManna said the tax would take effect on April 1, 2027, and expire after 25 years. He clarified that the measure is a sales tax, not a property tax, and would exclude prescription medication, gasoline, and utilities from the levy. If approved, the Kearney Board of Aldermen would control spending decisions related to the new revenue stream.

LaManna said Kearney currently ranks as the 10th safest city in Missouri. He emphasized that the city seeks to maintain its current officer quality while meeting increasing demands from a growing community. "We have good quality officers out there right now, and we want to be able to keep that," LaManna said.

Simultaneously, Clay County voters will consider Proposition A, a package of amendments to the county constitution recommended by the county’s Constitution Review Commission. The measure presents multiple proposed changes as a single yes-or-no question for voters to decide collectively.

Early voters in Liberty expressed varying opinions on the structure of Proposition A. Terry Powell, a Liberty voter, said she was uncomfortable with combining multiple issues into one vote. "I don’t like them doing that," Powell said. "I think that’s wrong for them to combine everything because there’s some things I like and some things I don’t." Powell said she would prefer the measure be broken into separate questions.

Franklin Bridges, another Liberty voter, cited concerns about provisions tied to pay and authority within the amendment package. "I’m uncomfortable when you talk about everybody getting a pay increase," Bridges said. "And having a lot more authority."