Residents urge forensic audit, oversight before April 8 vote on $197 million bond; council discusses transparency

Lee Phillips, an Independence resident, told the City Council on March 17 that voters should demand more transparency before casting ballots on a proposed $197,000,000 general obligation bond scheduled for April 8. "This bond would shape our community's financial future for the next 20 years," Phillips said during the public-comment period, and he asked the council to consider a state-led forensic audit to determine whether previous tax revenues and bond funds had been spent as voters expected.

Why it matters: The bond would fund capital projects over two decades; residents pressed councilmembers to explain how past voter-approved revenue — including a marijuana sales tax enacted April 23, 2023 — had been used and whether stronger local oversight is needed.

Phillips cited what he described as incomplete street projects and asked why nearly half of roughly $800,000 collected from a marijuana sales tax meant for public safety was redirected to a square-redevelopment project. "There is no formal mechanism ensuring that bond money is allocated as promised to voters," he said, and suggested a forensic audit to "identify waste, fraud, or mismanagement" before taking on new debt.

Another resident, Becky Haight, spoke about bonds tied to fire-station construction and the risk of relying on dedicated service taxes. Haight said the city had described issuing $43,800,000 in bonds for three new fire stations, with $40,000,000 coming from a fire-protection tax and $3,800,000 from a marijuana tax. She expressed concern that, in past bond financings, the city had shifted other service-tax revenue (street, park, stormwater and recreation taxes) to cover shortfalls. "I strongly urge the city to look at these issues," Haight said, noting deferred maintenance and long payback periods.

City staff and councilmembers responded with clarifications and next steps. The city manager said the marijuana sales tax was placed by voters for public safety and that city intent was to use initial proceeds for Independence Police Department facility needs. He added that a portion of the marijuana sales tax had been used to prepare redevelopment plans for the area currently occupied by police headquarters so the city would not be left with a vacant or derelict building if the bond passes.

Councilmember Stewart said he would like the council to consider a citizen oversight committee if the bond measure passes and asked staff to prepare a resolution for a study session. Councilmember Fierce noted the city had recently completed its annual financial audit, and said the audit concluded the city's financial practices met generally accepted accounting principles. "We just received that audit ... everything is being done as it's supposed to be done," Fierce said.

What was not decided: There was no council vote to delay or change the April 8 bond referendum. Citizens requested additional transparency and an independent review; councilmembers asked staff to prepare options for oversight and reporting if the bond is approved.

Context and next steps: The speakers asked for clear reporting on how bond and voter-approved sales-tax proceeds will be spent. Councilmembers and staff said they will discuss oversight options in upcoming study sessions and that one study session at 6 p.m. next Monday will include an overview of the general obligation bond for the public.

Ending: The council did not take formal action on the requests at the March 17 meeting; residents and councilmembers agreed to pursue further discussion and possible oversight measures before or after the April 8 vote.