Jackson County Legislature adopts 2025 budget after public hearing; agencies urge retroactive COMBAT funding

The Jackson County Legislature adopted Ordinance 05/1986, the countyannual budget and appropriations, following a public hearing Monday, June 9, at the Jackson County Courthouse in Kansas City. The motion to adopt passed unanimously on a recorded vote of 9-0.

The hearing drew more than two dozen speakers from courts, nonprofits and faith organizations who asked legislators to finalize the budget so outside-agency and COMBAT (community-based violence intervention) funds could be distributed to partner providers. Many speakers said delays already had forced layoffs, borrowing and program reductions, and several asked that COMBAT awards be paid retroactively to Jan. 1.

Why it matters: the ordinance sets county spending priorities for the coming fiscal year, including funding streams used by violence-prevention, homelessness-prevention and other social-service providers. Agencies told the legislature that months of delay have strained operations and threatened services to vulnerable residents.

At the hearing, Judge Kevin Harrell, presiding judge of the 16th Judicial Circuit, thanked legislators and asked for approval. "I'm asking that you please approve this budget," Harrell said, noting the urgency of funding for court operations. Jackson County…