Kansas City Nonprofits & the Local Ballot

Two weeks from today we take to the polls to let our leaders know what kind of world we want to live in. While the presidential race has filled the public consciousness for months, voters will weigh in on numerous local issues. The countdown to Election Day is coming down to the wire; we all want to make an informed vote, and we value hearing from experts in the causes we care about.
 
Seven of Nonprofit Connect’s member organizations spoke with us about local Kansas City ballot initiatives and legislative issues they care about, and how the people they serve could be affected by the outcomes.

Participating organizations: Great Plains SPCA, Jackson County CASA, Jewish Vocational Service, Main Street Corridor Development Corporation/Main Street Community Improvement District, Park University, PREP-KC, and REACH Healthcare Foundation
 
At the end of this blog post, you will find

What issue(s) on this November’s ballot does your organization care about? What do voters need to know? How could the outcome affect those you serve?

Jewish Vocational Service
Amy Eastin, Marketing & Event Planning Specialist

JVS supports the Children Service Fund. This ballot initiative proposes a 1/8 of one cent tax levy to help vulnerable children in Jackson County. This sales tax is expected to generate $15 million a year which will go towards decreasing child abuse and neglect, supporting families, and enabling youth and children to become productive members of society. Eight Missouri counties have already approved a similar tax and have seen decreases of up to 50% in school dropouts, juvenile crime rates and teen pregnancy. For every $1 spent on children, society saves $11 on what would have been spent on lost wages, substance abuse treatment, and the criminal justice system. 

JVS provides services to refugee youth. Currently, there is little funding available to help refugee children the support they need to be successful. The Children's Service Fund could help increase capacity to help these children. 

Jackson County CASA
Claire M. Terrebonne, Staff Attorney/Guardian Ad Litem

Two initiatives on the [Kansas City, MO] ballot this November that directly impact the children and families we serve are Question #1, to renew COMBAT, and Question # 2, to establish a Children’s Services Fund in Jackson County. 

COMBAT (Community Backed Anti-Drug Tax) is major funding source for law enforcement, the prosecutor’s office, courts, corrections, and drug treatment and prevention service providers. But even with COMBAT and other funding sources, a recent needs assessment found that there is roughly an $80 million shortfall for children’s health services in our region.

Establishing the Jackson County Children’s Service Fund will help fill that gap by generating close to $15 million annually. This fund will support services for Jackson County children that address issues related to homelessness, mental health treatment, substance abuse, and prevention programs.  Eight other Missouri counties have established this fund and have seen its success in their communities. 

Main Street Corridor
Diane Burnette, Executive Director & Chief Administrator

When it comes to Constitutional Amendments please read everything you can and do not rely on advertising as these can be very misleading. Always ask yourself if this is good for the people.

We want to elect officials who will prioritize public transit to make transportation more equitable in our city. We also want to make sure our natural resources, parks, and historic sites are preserved for future generations. The Constitutional Amendment No. 3 and Proposition A appear to both be taxing cigarettes, and the revenue generated would create a positive effect on our communities through both early childhood education and increased transit infrastructure.

Park University
Terry Ward, Assistant Professor

While I am not a spokesman for Park University, as a professor and expert in public administration and public policy, I would offer these thoughts.

Students are completing baccalaureate and advanced degrees with a tremendous debt load. Many suggest that we need a workforce with advanced skills, but the debt load that it creates for many makes it prohibitive. There needs to be a commitment to workforce development and one element of that plan needs to increase the accessibility of college to persons of limited means.

We have watched one state cut back on its funding of government and then put the burden on the back of K-12 education.  K-12 education is foundational to a solid economy and a population with upward mobility.  And if states compound that by cutting back on funding for higher education, it goes against the elements that are discussed above.

Are there any issues not on the ballot that you encourage constituents to raise with their legislators? What’s the best way for voters to get involved?

Great Plains SPCA
Beth Pauley, Director of Internal and Legislative Affairs

Unfortunately, Missouri and Kansas both rank at the top of the list for the top “Puppy Mill” states in the Country. In 2010, Missourians voted to pass the strongest puppy mill law in the Nation, Proposition B, creating accountabilities for puppy mill operators.  Since then, however, Prop B has been softened by the state legislature, and deceptive “right to farm” amendments and data ag gag laws have been passed through the state legislature that allow puppy mills to carry out their already poorly regulated practices with little to no supervision or transparency.

Voters can help by raising these issues with their lawmakers while dispelling the myth that “right to farm” amendments are beneficial for local farmers and state legislature.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle in the sheltering industry is breed specific legislation. Communities across the country have been revisiting these laws, because there is no scientific evidence that banning breeds makes communities safer.  Shawnee, Roeland Park, Buckner, and Grandview are just a few examples of the communities that have recently repealed their breed discriminatory laws. The State of Missouri has made valiant attempts to move away from these archaic practices and make communities safer by introducing legislation that would prohibit communities from passing breed specific legislation.  Although the attempt last year (HB 1811) came within inches of being passed, it was singlehandedly killed by the Senate Agricultural Committee Chairman. 

If you live in a community with a breed ban, reach out to your City Council Representative and voice your support for repealing the ban.  If lawmakers don’t sense the urgency from their constituents, they won’t have any incentive to push these issues forward when elected into office. 

Jackson County CASA

One of the most critical issues facing child welfare across the country is the lack of high-quality services available to our poor and low-income families. While Questions 1 and 2 address part of the funding gap for those services, those funds are limited as far as the type of services they can support. Preventing cuts in funding for children and family services is critical, but [so is] encouraging our leaders to identify and take advantage of additional funding where available, like Medicaid expansion. 

The easiest way for voters to stay informed and know when it’s time to contact their legislators is to follow their favorite organizations. Those organizations will keep their supporters up-to-date on pressing issues that affect the communities they serve.

PREP-KC
Susan Wally, President & CEO

My hope is that all of us as voters and advocates for children will make it clear to candidates and elected officials that funding for public education is a critical issue in a modern democracy.  The outcome of a rigorous and well-funded education system is a state or region where all citizens can become well-educated and well-employed contributors, regardless of zip code, race, or national origin.  

Additionally, we should also be educating candidates and elected officials so they understand that the "outputs" of K-12 education should be children and young people with important "soft skills" known by labels such as social/emotional learning, workforce-ready skills, and character education. They all refer to the development of young citizens who, along with being academically prepared, are also prepared to make a positive impact on their neighborhoods, schools and workplaces.

REACH Healthcare Foundation
Brenda R. Sharpe, President & CEO

Today, more than 150,000 Kansans and more than 300,000 Missourians currently fall into a health coverage gap. Expanding the Medicaid programs in each state is a fiscally responsible solution that will cover the uninsured and bring hundreds of millions of untapped federal tax dollars back home to the Kansas City region. But so far, our state’s elected officials have refused to seriously consider expansion while 31 other states have done so.

Balanced tax policy is an important issue that nonprofits and their trustees need to raise with their legislators and all candidates for public office.  Continuous, sustained cuts to state budgets place a tremendous strain on nonprofits’ ability to meet demand with fewer resources, especially when they are already operating on razor-thin margins. 

I would strongly encourage nonprofit executives to have these types of conversations with their Boards of Directors to ensure that their trustees’ personal advocacy efforts around tax policy are reflective of the organization’s mission.  Otherwise you may be inadvertently missing out on opportunities to leverage the power and influence of your trustees’ voices on behalf of your clients and patients.

Main Street Corridor
Please read the ballot in advance, ask questions and get to know the people you vote for before and after the elections. When our leaders are in office, they need us to help them make decisions that are best for the people and the only way to do this is stay involved. Go to local meetings with community groups, church groups, neighborhood associations and even cities.

Park University
Terry Ward, Assistant Professor
An issue that concerns me involves those who say that they are going to sit on the sidelines. That creates no pressure on those who are elected to deliver on issues that are critical to the survival of various organizations and the services for client groups.  Each organization has key priorities that are unique to their mission.  Advocacy should start now. While the legislative bodies are less friendly to social issues and the arts, we need to assure that our collective voices are loud and forceful.

Find your ballot: https://g.co/kgs/TDKw5U

Kansas City, MO specific questions: https://www.kceb.org/elections/ballot/

Missouri Referenda:

Constitutional Amendment 1
Shall Missouri continue for 10 years the one-tenth of one percent sales/use tax that is used for soil and water conservation and for state parks and historic sites, and resubmit this tax to the voters for approval in 10 years?

The measure continues and does not increase the existing sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent for 10 years. The measure would continue to generate approximately $90 million annually for soil and water conservation and operation of the state park system.

A yes vote supports renewing the existing sales and use tax of 0.1 percent for 10 years to fund state parks and soil and water conservation.
A no vote opposes this proposal to renew the existing sales and use tax of 0.1 percent for 10 years.

Constitutional Amendment 2
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:
establish limits on campaign contributions by individuals or entities to political parties, political committees, or committees to elect candidates for state or judicial office;
prohibit individuals and entities from intentionally concealing the source of such contributions;
require corporations or labor organizations to meet certain requirements in order to make such contributions; and
provide a complaint process and penalties for any violations of this amendment?
It is estimated this proposal will increase state government costs by at least $118,000 annually and have an unknown change in costs for local governmental entities. Any potential impact to revenues for state and local governmental entities is unknown.

A "yes" vote supports establishing limits on campaign contributions to candidates for state or judicial office.
A "no" vote opposes this amendment to establish limits on campaign contributions to candidates for state or judicial office.

Constitutional Amendment 3
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:
increase taxes on cigarettes each year through 2020, at which point this additional tax will total 60 cents per pack of 20;
create a fee paid by cigarette wholesalers of 67 cents per pack of 20 on certain cigarettes, which fee shall increase annually; and
deposit funds generated by these taxes and fees into a newly established Early Childhood Health and Education Trust Fund?
When cigarette tax increases are fully implemented, estimated additional revenue to state government is $263 million to $374 million annually, with limited estimated implementation costs. The revenue will fund only programs and services allowed by the proposal. The fiscal impact to local governmental entities is unknown.

A "yes" vote supports this proposal to increase the taxes on cigarette packs from 17 cents to 77 cents by 2020 and impose an additional fee on tobacco wholesalers at an initial rate of 67 cents per pack.
A "no" vote opposes this proposal to increase the taxes on cigarette packs, keeping the current tobacco tax of 17 cents per pack.

Constitutional Amendment 4
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to prohibit a new state or local sales/use or other similar tax on any service or transaction that was not subject to a sales/use or similar tax as of January 1, 2015?
Potential costs to state and local governmental entities are unknown, but could be significant. The proposal's passage would impact governmental entity's ability to revise their tax structures. State and local governments expect no savings from this proposal.

A "yes" vote supports prohibiting a new state sales or use tax on any service or activity that was not subject to a sales or use tax as of January 1, 2015.
A "no" vote opposes this amendment prohibiting new sales or use taxes.

Constitutional Amendment 6
Shall the Constitution of Missouri be amended to state that voters may be required by law, which may be subject to exception, to verify one's identity, citizenship, and residence by presenting identification that may include valid government-issued photo identification?
The proposed amendment will result in no costs or savings because any potential costs would be due to the enactment of a general law allowed by this proposal. If such a general law is enacted, the potential costs to state and local governments is unknown, but could exceed $2.1 million annually.

A "yes" vote supports allowing the state government to require the presentation of voter IDs at public elections in order to prove national and state citizenship.
A "no" vote opposes this proposal to allow the state government to require the presentation of voter IDs at public elections for the purpose of identifying and proving national and state citizenship.

Proposition A
Shall Missouri law be amended to:
increase taxes on cigarettes in 2017, 2019, and 2021, at which point this additional tax will total 23 cents per pack of 20;
increase the tax paid by sellers on other tobacco products by 5 percent of manufacturer's invoice price;
use funds generated by these taxes exclusively to fund transportation infrastructure projects; and
repeal these taxes if a measure to increase any tax or fee on cigarettes or other tobacco products is certified to appear on any local or statewide ballot?
State government revenue will increase by approximately $95 million to $103 million annually when cigarette and tobacco tax increases are fully implemented, with the new revenue earmarked for transportation infrastructure. Local government revenues could decrease approximately $3 million annually due to decreased cigarette and tobacco sales.

A "yes" vote supports this proposal to increase taxes on cigarettes by 23 cents per pack by 2021 and to add an additional 5 percent sales tax for other tobacco products.
A "no" vote opposes this proposal to increase taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products, thereby keeping the current 17 cents per pack cigarette tax.

Kansas Referendum:

Constitutional Amendment
Right of public to hunt, fish and trap wildlife. The people have the right to hunt, fish and trap, including by the use of traditional methods, subject to reasonable laws and regulations that promote wildlife conservation and management and that preserve the future of hunting and fishing. Public hunting and fishing shall be a preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife. This section shall not be construed to modify any provision of law relating to trespass, property rights or water resources."

A "yes" vote is a vote in favor of ensuring a constitutional right to hunt, fish, and trap wildlife.
A "no" vote is a vote against ensuring a constitutional right to hunt, fish, and trap wildlife.