The park sales tax is collected on retail sales made within North Kansas City and is dedicated to “solely fund local parks, related recreation activities, and improvements” for residents.

The park sales tax rate is proposed for ¼ of 1%, or simply ¼ of a penny. It will add an additional twenty-five ($.25) cents for every one hundred ($100) dollars you spend within the city on retail sales under the provision.

The park sales tax only applies to retail sales made within the city of North Kansas City that are subject to taxation under the provision of Section 144.010 to 144.525 RSMo. Some sales, such as certain food and automobiles, are excluded.

The Parks fund is supported by a tax levy, fees charged for programming and rentals, donations, sponsorships, and fees from Kansas City, Missouri for a shared dog park. The Parks Department also receives support services from the City, including maintenance and capital improvements.

The annual cost to provide services to our residents and surrounding communities continues to increase while our revenues remain the same or decrease. In the past year, one of our main sources of funding was decreased due to the Clay County property surtax reduction. These reasons, coupled with infrastructure repairs, cost of labor and operations, has resulted in a decrease to our financial reserves.

Both residents and non-residents who shop in the city of North Kansas City will pay the parks sales tax. North Kansas City parks, programs, festivals, and events bring many people to our city, and many of those visitors patronize our businesses around town. City parks are enjoyed heavily by non-residents; this tax would ensure non-residents share in the cost of improving and maintaining our park systems.

No, by law the park sales tax can only be used for local parks. However, having a dedicated funding source for local parks frees up more funding for other departments, street improvements, and capital improvement projects.

The revenue will be used to fund Parks and Recreation operations, activities, and improvements. The new revenue would allow for repairs to existing infrastructure in a proactive approach, growth and expansion of offerings, planning and executing capital improvement projects, maintenance preparation for River Forest Park, absorbing the increased labor and operation costs, and ultimately to remove Parks from the City's financial support.

The last time voters in North Kansas City approved a sales tax increase was in 2017 for a 1/2 cent Public Safety Sales Tax. The proposed Park Sales Tax rate is 1/4 of one (1) cent that is projected to generate approximately $800,000 per year.