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 Prosecutor Melissa Johnson told the legislature, "The passage of today's budget would mean that our legislature, our leaders of this county view violence reduction as essential and critical by being able to fund the prosecutor's office necessary functions and all of our combat agencies."

Nonprofit leaders described concrete harms from delayed payments. Jackie Sumner of Independence and Eastern Jackson County Youth Courts said the youth-court programs learned they "are not allowed to make any claims for expenses for the first quarter of this year," creating "about a 25% cut to youth courts funding." Shanita McAfee Bryant, executive director of Prospect KC, told legislators simply: "Hunger is rising," and asked them to consider "the human people behind every single budget line." John Fierro, president and CEO of Matty Rhodes Center, urged that COMBAT awards be paid retroactively: "My ask of you is that upon passage of the budget is that the COMBAT recipients would receive funding, retroactive to January 1."

Legislators indicated awareness of agency hardship during debate. Chair Deron McGee publicly thanked Budget Chair Charlie Franklin and county staff for negotiating the agreement that led to passage: "I did want to publicly thank my colleague and chair of our budget committee, Charlie Franklin, on getting us to this point." Several legislators also noted that some ordinances and resolutions would be held until the county executive signs the budget.

What the record shows: the legislature moved to perfect and then to adopt Ordinance 05/1986. The final vote on adoption was recorded as 9 yes, 0 no. The clerk recorded individual "yes" votes from Anderson, Peyton, Abarca, Franklin, Lauer, Husky, McGee, Sean Smith and Megan Smith during roll call and follow-up confirmations; the motion carried.

Speakers and organizations at the hearing urged full funding for a wide range of services that rely on county awards, citing specific local impacts: Harvesters reported food insecurity affecting "113,000" county residents and a 12% increase from prior measures; Moxa described a monthly gap of roughly $20,000 that had accumulated to about $120,000; Matty Rhodes said it had spent more than $200,000 to retain staff year-to-date and would lose roughly $100,000 absent retroactive COMBAT funding. Several agencies described staff layoffs or borrowing to cover payroll if funds were not distributed.

Next steps: the legislature's clerk and chair said some ordinances and resolutions would remain on hold until the county executive signs the budget. Agencies asked that any COMBAT and outside-agency contract awards be released promptly and that payments be made retroactively where possible so providers can stabilize operations.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 05/1986 (adoption of 2025 budget and appropriations): Passed, 9-0 (recorded yes votes included Anderson; Peyton; Abarca; Franklin; Lauer; Husky; McGee; Sean Smith; Megan Smith). Outcome: approved. Notes: Chair McGee said several follow-up ordinances will be finalized once the county executive signs the budget. - Resolution 5959 (acceptance of Missouri Western Interdiction and Narcotics Task Force grant awarded by Missouri Dept. of Public Safety): Perfected and advanced in committee during the meeting (recorded procedural approval during the session). - Withdrawals/holds: Resolution 21903 was withdrawn in committee; Resolution/ordinance items listed for reading were held pending the county executive's signature on the budget.

The legislature closed the hearing and moved on with its agenda after the vote. Several speakers from health, housing and violence-prevention nonprofits left the meeting thanking legislators for passing the budget; many urged rapid distribution of funds to avoid further service interruptions.