April 5, Public Safety Sales Tax Question

On April 5, Lee's Summit voters approved a 1/2 percent public safety sales tax dedicated to the operations of the Fire and Police Departments. The revenue will be used for services, equipment, compensation and training. 

 

Public Safety Sales Tax Fast Facts

  • Revenue from a public safety sales tax would be used for the operation of the Fire and Police Departments, including expansion of services, equipment, compensation and training.
  • The current total sales tax rate is 7.85% of which the City receives 2.25%. Voters will be asked if the City can increase the City's sales tax rate to 2.75% resulting in a total sales tax rate of 8.35%.
  • The public safety sales tax is intended only to be used to fund the operations of the Fire and Police and cannot be commingled with non-public safety City funds.
  • If approved, the revenue from a public safety sales tax could exceed $10 million annually.
  • In a recent survey, residents said safety is what matters most and is the primary reason why people choose to live in Lee's Summit.

 

How Will This Affect the City’s Sales Tax Rate?

  • The City's current sales tax rate would increase from 2.25% to 2.75%.
  • The total sales tax rate would increase from 7.85% to 8.35%
sales tax comparison chart

 


How Would Revenue From a Public Safety Sales Tax Be Used?

Expand Public Services

The ability to respond to the increased calls for service has a direct impact on emergency outcomes. Services necessary to meet the safety needs of the community would be expanded.

Attract & Retain Talent

Provide increased compensation to:

  • recruit quality candidates locally and nationally
  • retain experienced personnel
Equip

To purchase needed equipment and add personnel to increase emergency response capability and capacity.

Frequently Asked Questions

If approved by voters, the public safety sales tax would go into effect October 1, 2022. 

A public safety sales tax could exceed $10 million in revenue.

The revenue would be used to fund operations of the Police and Fire Departments and would include services, equipment, compensation and training. 

The current City Council has pledged to continue funding public safety from the General Fund at current levels. The potential revenue generated by a public safety sales tax would be in addition to the current funding public safety already receives.

In Lee's Summit, the sales tax rate would increase from 7.85% to 8.35%.  

The City receives 2.25%. Below is a breakdown of the distribution:

  • County 1.25%
  • City 2.25%
  • State 4.225%
  • Special Tax 0.125%

The current sales tax rate received to the City is 2.25%. If the proposed ballot question is approved, shoppers would pay $0.05 more on a $10 purchase.

The City's use tax rate will always be the same as Lee's Summit's sales tax rate. 

Yes. A number of our neighboring cities such as Belton, Grandview, Independence, Blue Springs, Kansas City, Raymore, Raytown and Greenwood have a public safety sales tax. 

 

 

When comparing Lee's Summit's sales tax rate to eight of our neighboring cities, Lee's Summit's sales tax rate of 7.85% is the lowest. If the public safety sale tax is approved by voters, our sales tax rate would be in the bottom third.

 

In a recent survey, residents said safety is what matters most and is the primary reason why people choose to live in Lee’s Summit. Additional funding allows the City to continue providing excellent service to residents today, meet future demands and protect a high quality of life.

Election day is April 5, 2022. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

The deadline to register to vote is March 9, 2022. 

Absentee requests for the April 5, 2022 election must be received by the Jackson County Election Board on or before March 23, 2022. https://jcebmo.org/voter-information/absentee-voting

For more information about voting visit  https://jcebmo.org/voter-information/registration.

Public Safety Sales Tax Ballot Language

Shall the City of Lee’s Summit, Missouri impose a city sales tax of one-half percent (1/2%) for public safety purposes?

If this question is approved, the City of Lee's Summit would begin collecting a sales tax at the rate of one-half percent (1/2%) and the funds derived from the tax will fund municipal costs related to public safety for the citizens of Lee's Summit.

 

Paid for by the City of Lee's Summit | William A. Baird, Mayor | 220 SE Green St., Lee's Summit, MO 64063