Sales-tax oversight committees report progress on parks, tourism, stormwater, streets and public safety projects

Representatives from five citizen oversight committees presented semiannual updates to the Independence City Council April 28, detailing spending, projects and program metrics for park improvements, tourism, stormwater, street sales tax programs and public safety funds.

Parks: Diane Kaiser, representing the Parks Commission, reported routine maintenance and program activity funded by the park improvement sales tax after renewal earlier in 2024. She summarized maintenance work (athletic-field preparation, restroom repairs, trail brush clearing), special projects (pavilion roof replacement at one park, a memorial bench installation) and recreation participation (more than 2,000 participants in wellness programs at Sermon Center). Kaiser concluded the commission's view that the sales-tax-funded activities were "in keeping with the program's intent" and enhance quality of life.

Tourism / Transient Guest Tax: Sam Richey presented transient guest tax metrics and attraction attendance figures through Dec. 31, 2024. Richey noted the National Frontier Trails Museum's robust visitation (including international visitors), first- and second-quarter shifts at several historic sites, and a slight downturn in hotel occupancy in the latest STAR (Smith Travel Accommodations Report) comparisons. He said the city's roughly two dozen hotels and nearly 2,000 hotel rooms generate the 6.5% transient guest tax that funds tourism activity.

Stormwater: Les Boatwright summarized the stormwater oversight committee report and noted that projected revenues for FY24-25 total about $5.66 million and actual receipts in the first six months were roughly $2.7 million (including interest). He highlighted capital projects, many funded in part by ARPA grants, and said the stormwater program has raised about $48.8 million over the life of the tax. Boatwright listed large-scale capital work underway or in design (corrugated metal pipe replacements, watershed projects such as Raymond Harkleston Mills) and described the system scale: over 13,800 storm structures, roughly 2,300 miles of pipe and 23 local watersheds.

Street Improvements: Wes Epperson, chair of the Street Improvements Oversight Committee, provided a six-month revenue update and a program summary for pavement preventative maintenance, overlays and mobility projects. He reported actual street sales tax collections and interest income figures for the July 1'Dec. 31 reporting period and described ongoing projects: Complete Streets, Truman Depot/Pacific Trail improvements, Little Blue Parkway/Jackson Drive intersection work and multiple design-phase projects. Epperson read a memo the committee adopted at its April 3 meeting expressing concern about how operating expenses are calculated under the enabling ordinance. The memo stated: "Some members of the street improvement oversight committee have expressed concern for the manner in which operating expenses are calculated as they relate to compliance with section 6 of the sales tax enabling ordinance, ordinance 18748. The city council should ensure it is satisfied that the requirements of section 6 are being met." Councilmembers said the Audit & Finance Committee will review the legal opinion and return a ruling.

Public Safety: Patrick Casey presented the Public Safety Oversight Committee report. The fire department and police-related tax programs were summarized; Casey listed equipment deliveries (fire pumpers delivered and additional units on order), station design efforts (Stations 5, 8 and 11), staffing updates and the status of various tax accounts (public safety sales tax, Proposition P, marijuana tax and police wage-supplement tax). The committee reported fund balances and transfers through the most recent reporting dates and outlined capital and staffing priorities.

Across committees, presenters credited citizen volunteers and public staff implementation; council members thanked volunteers and staff and asked for follow-up reviews by Audit & Finance where legal or accounting questions remain. No committee actions were reversed at the meeting; the council accepted the reports and slated follow-up review of the street-sales-tax operating-expense question.