Council passes TIF Reform, County Drops Suit

The Kansas City Council today made reforms to it’s Tax Increment Finance laws, prompting Jackson County to drop it lawsuit against. The City.
In a statement late today County Executive Mike Sanders said,”It is imperative that all of the taxpayers of our community have a voice in how their tax dollars are spent, and the Council’s actions will help ensure that the TIF process is both transparent and accountable to the public that it serves. Furthermore, it is the County’s intention to dismiss its lawsuit upon this ordinance becoming effective.”
The County sued Kansas City saying the make up of the TIF violated state law. The City panel consisted of six appointees with limited influence from the five other TIF appointees representing the other tax jurisdictions of a particular project. The County said the other five did not have full membership, which violates sate law. The state law says TIF commissions should always have eleven members. At the time the dispute started, Sanders said “six does not equal eleven”.