Lee’s Summit voters will consider a 1/4-cent stormwater sales tax on August 4. If approved, the dedicated revenue would support stormwater management, maintenance, projects and operations, flood risk mitigation, water quality, regulatory compliance, public education and related staffing and equipment.

No. The City is providing factual information about the ballot measure. The City is not allowed to advocate for or against any measure it places on the ballot. The decision will be made by voters.

Stormwater is rainwater that runs off streets, rooftops, driveways, parking lots and other surfaces. Stormwater management includes pipes, culverts, ditches, inlets, detention basins, drainage channels and other systems that help move and manage runoff.

The City has identified stormwater management, infrastructure and service needs related to flooding, erosion, sinkholes, aging infrastructure, water quality, maintenance, regulatory compliance, and public education that lack adequate funding. Stormwater and related funding issues in Lee’s Summit have been identified and discussed for decades, as well as included in various strategic plans such as LS360 and Ignite! Comprehensive Plan.

The City Council reviewed several ways to fund long-term stormwater infrastructure needs, including a property tax, user fees, and a sales tax.

This review followed the work of the Stormwater Utility Task Force, which evaluated stormwater needs and funding options. User fees would require a new billing and collection system, with an estimated $1 million to $1.5 million going toward administrative and collection costs. A property tax would place the cost on property owners; only those who live or own property in Lee’s Summit.

City Council ultimately voted unanimously to place a sales tax question on the ballot because it spreads the cost among residents and nonresidents who purchase goods and services in Lee’s Summit.

The City’s current stormwater service level is largely reactive. Current activities include closing roads during flooding, cleaning mud and debris within the right-of-way, inspecting structures for substantial damage, performing minimal maintenance, and maintaining permit compliance. Stormwater capital projects are mostly afforded by one-time funds such as the Capital Improvement Sales Tax, passed by voters in 2017, that sunsets in 2032, or voter approved general obligation bonds for specific public improvements.

If approved, revenue would support stormwater-related needs including maintenance crews, equipment, smaller capital improvement projects, contracted repairs and replacements, flood risk mitigation, water quality work, regulatory compliance, public education, planning, and asset management. It would expand and enhance the current stormwater levels of service. It would not replace funds already applied to the current stormwater operation levels of service.

The City’s presentation identifies approximately $6.1 million per year as the estimated annual revenue needed to support the proposed stormwater service level., and The City estimates an amount equal to the annual revenue needed would be generated by a 1/4-cent sales tax (approximately $6.1M).

If approved, revenue would only be used for stormwater-related purposes as outlined in the ballot language.

If approved, the City would begin collecting the sales tax according to the legally established timeline and use the revenue for stormwater maintenance crews, equipment, smaller capital improvement projects, contracted repairs and replacements, flood risk mitigation, water quality work, tree/landscaping programs, regulatory compliance, public education, system master planning, asset management, and other stormwater-related purposes.

• Operations and Maintenance
  • The maintenance crews (personnel), equipment, and day-to-day activities that keep the stormwater system functioning.
• Infrastructure and Improvements
  • Capital improvements, repairs, and flood risk mitigation to improve physical stormwater assets.
• Planning and Community Support
  • Regulatory compliance, public education, and stormwater planning and asset management.

This would be a permanent quarter-cent tax, to fund an ongoing “Operation and Maintenance Programs.”

Yes. Taxable purchases made from online-only businesses located in Lee’s Summit would be subject to the applicable use tax and would generate revenue in the same way as other qualifying online purchases.

It does not factor into the current budget difficulties. Currently, stormwater management is funded through approximately $800,000 for operations and maintenance and one-time capital funds for infrastructure projects. That funding is tied to a specific project or effort and will end once that project or effort is complete. The addition of this revenue stream would provide dedicated funding to expand and enhance Stormwater Management and would be used only for Stormwater Management. It would not replace existing funds used for current Stormwater Management. Stormwater Management and related funding has been an issue for decades in the City of Lee’s Summit.

Improved water quality would the primary benefit to lake communities. Capital programs to stabilize stream banks will reduce soil erosion that flows from streams into lakes. Enhanced right-of-way maintenance can reduce litter that flows from streets, through storm pipes, to streams and then into lakes. Public education would, over time, benefit water quality in lakes by increasing public awareness of activities that affect water quality. Activities such as cleaning up animal fecal wastes reduce the risk of e-coli; not illegally discharging chlorinated water into storm drains when draining swimming pools.

No; if the Sales tax passes, it will be added to the City’s current operations and maintenance funding. Current annual stormwater operations funding is approximately $820,000 per year. The Sales tax How will City’s stormwater money be spent?

The Stormwater Sales Tax measure is the only City of Lee’s Summit item on the ballot. There will also be four state amendments on the ballot, which can be found at SOS.Mo.gov/petitions/2026ballotmeasures.

For Jackson County and Cass County ballot measures, visit JacksonGov.org and CassCounty.com. The City’s stormwater sales tax proposal is unrelated to the other ballot measures. It is not a replacement tax.

Residents can find official voter information through the Jackson County Election Board and the City’s informational webpage CityofLS.net/AugElection26.