07.11.25 County Executive vetoes special election on Charter amendment
July 11, 2025
Jackson County Executive vetoes costly, misleading special election on Charter amendment
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Today, Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. announced his veto of Ordinance 5989, which would have called a countywide special election in November 2025 to amend the County Charter for an elected assessor, even though the proposed changes would not take effect until 2028 and could be placed on a regularly scheduled ballot at no cost to taxpayers.
“This would be the fourth unbudgeted election proposed by this Legislature in less than two years,” said Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. “Not one has passed. Not one has been fiscally responsible. And this one is no different. I support giving voters a say, but we can and should do it in 2026, when it won’t cost Jackson County taxpayers a single extra dollar.”
The vetoed ordinance would have spent millions of taxpayer dollars on a standalone election to make changes that, by design, would not take effect for more than three years. At the same time, the County already has scheduled elections in both August 2026 and November 2026 where the question could be placed before voters at no additional cost.
But cost wasn’t the only problem. The proposed ballot language fails to include even the most basic qualifications for the office in question and misrepresents the legal responsibilities of the role.
“The ordinance says the elected Assessor would be responsible for taxation in the County. That’s just wrong,” White said. “Under Missouri law, taxation is the job of the Collector. The Assessor is responsible for valuing property accurately and fairly. If we can’t get that distinction right in our founding document, we shouldn’t be rushing this to the voters.”
County Executive White also raised concern that the proposed language omits any reference to accuracy, fairness or compliance with state law, a glaring omission in a role so central to property values and public trust.
“The message this sends is that efficiency and predictability matter, but getting it right doesn’t,” White said. “That’s not something I can support, and I don’t believe the public would either.”
County Executive White reiterated that he would support placing a revised version of the charter question on the August 2026 or November 2026 ballot and is calling on the Legislature to work collaboratively and transparently to get it right. The veto message of Ordinance 5989 is attached.