This August, Missouri voters will once again weigh in on a constitutional amendment that would increase minimum funding for the Kansas City Police Dept. (KCPD). Amendment 4, which appeared on the ballot in 2022, is back for a re-vote after the Missouri Supreme Court ordered a new election due to misleading language in the previous ballot measure.
What is Amendment 4?
Amendment 4 would change the Missouri Constitution to increase the minimum funding Kansas City must provide to its police department from 20% to 25% of the city’s general revenue. This would amount to an additional $38.7 million per year for the KCPD from the city’s budget.
The measure only affects Kansas City, as it’s the only city in Missouri – and one of the few major cities in the U.S. – that doesn’t have local control over its police department. Instead, a state-appointed Board of Police Commissioners oversees the KCPD, a system dating back to the Civil War era.
Why is this on the ballot again?
The Missouri Supreme Court ordered a new election after ruling that the fiscal note summary in the 2022 ballot was inaccurate and misleading. The previous summary stated there would be no additional costs or savings related to the proposal despite Kansas City officials informing the state auditor that the measure would cost the city about $38.7 million annually.
Mayor Quinton Lucas sued the state, and a judge agreed that the ballot language was misleading and it should be put before voters again. The judge also suggested that Amendment 4 go on the November ballot, but Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and other state officials moved the vote to August.
Arguments For Amendment 4
Supporters of the measure, like Republican state Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, who introduced the original legislation that became Amendment 4, argue that increased funding is necessary to combat rising crime rates in Kansas City.
“Amendment 4 would stabilize the KCPD budget and set a minimum funding level of 25% of city funds, which matches the historic funding the department has recently received,” Luetkemeyer wrote in an opinion for The Kansas City Star.
Luetkemeyer and other proponents say the measure would prevent future attempts to “defund the police” and ensure the department has resources to keep the community safe.
Supporters also contend that the measure protects the KCPD from political interference by city government, maintaining the police force’s independence under the current Board of Police Commissioners structure.
Arguments Against Amendment 4
Opponents, including KC Mayor Quinton Lucas, argue that the measure takes away any semblance of local control of the KCPD and harms the financial flexibility of the city.
“The radical legislation provides no pay guarantees for our officers, will not hire a single police officer, and ignores the will and importance of Kansas City taxpayers, instead attempting to politicize policing in Kansas City at a time we sorely need bipartisan solutions to violent crime,” Lucas said in a statement.
Critics also point out that KC has already voluntarily funded the police department above the proposed 25% minimum. They argue the measure would limit the city’s ability to allocate funds to other essential services like fire protection, public works, and health programs.
Opponents also argue that the measure unfairly allows voters across Missouri to decide on an issue that only affects KC residents. In the 2022 vote, while the measure passed statewide, it was rejected by 61% of voters in the Kansas City portion of Jackson County.
“Unfortunately, it’s gonna be all of Missouri in on the vote,” says Steve Young, co-founder of community-based Kansas City Law Enforcement Accountability Project (KC LEAP). “So there will be people voting who have no idea of the police problem here in Jackson County.”
Local Control of KCPD & Impact on the Black Community
The debate over police funding and control is particularly significant for KC LEAP, a victim advocacy agency focused on local police violence, law enforcement accountability and victim/family support. Young of KC LEAP emphasizes the importance of increased local control in improving community-police relations.
“The way the system is currently set up, the police are not really accountable to anybody in KC,” says Young. “All that tax money going to the police, and they aren’t even beholden to us? Talk about taxation without representation.”
He says that voting against Amendment 4 is “a step in the right direction” but that he’ll continue to advocate for full local control of the KCPD.
“Local control would actually turn the tables,” says Young. “We could actually have some action behind our grievances, and we can get some things done.”
Young also highlighted ongoing issues with police accountability, citing recent lawsuits against officers accused of excessive force. These cases underscore the tension between calls for increased police funding and demands for greater accountability and community trust.
What Happens If It Passes?
If Amendment 4 passes, Kansas City would be constitutionally required to allocate at least 25% of its general revenue to the police department.
What If It Fails?
If the amendment fails, the current funding structure would remain in place, with Kansas City required to provide at least 20% of its general revenue to the police department. The city would retain more flexibility in its budget allocations and could continue to fund the department above the minimum requirement as it sees fit.
Failure of the amendment could also spark renewed discussions about local control of the police department, similar to the change St. Louis made in 2012 when it regained control of its police force from the state.
Voter Info
Amendment 4 will be on the Aug. 6 primary ballot statewide. A sample ballot is available at ballotpedia.org/Missouri_Sample_Ballot. The last day to register to vote is July 10. To check your registration or register to vote, visit sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri/register.
