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Residents bring 4,865 petition signatures, urge council to rescind data‑center tax abatement or put it to a vote
Summary
Speakers at the April 8 meeting said petitioners gathered 4,865 signatures (more than 7% of registered voters) seeking a referendum on the city27s data‑center tax abatement. Commenters urged the council to rescind the tax‑abatement ordinance or move to allow a public vote.
Several residents used the public‑comment period at the April 8 Independence City Council meeting to press the council on a recent data‑center tax‑abatement ordinance.
Rachel Gonzalez, a lifelong Independence resident, told the council petitioners gathered 4,865 signatures — more than 7% of registered voters — in an effort to force a referendum on the ordinance. "We gathered and turned in 4,865 signatures," Gonzalez said, arguing the issue is "the largest, most consequential decision" the council has taken and urging a rescind or a motion to allow residents to vote.
Elisa Bridenbach joined Gonzalez27s call, saying residents she encountered while staffing polls had requested the chance to sign and reiterating the public27s expectation that large financial decisions be subject to voter review.
Council did not rescind the ordinance during the meeting, and staff did not provide a motion to put the ordinance to a referendum that night. The speakers said they had exceeded the charter threshold (5% of registered voters) and asked the council to recognize the petition and allow a vote or to rescind the abatement to let voters decide.
Next steps: Petitioners said they turned in signatures; council members indicated they heard public concerns but took no formal action on rescinding the ordinance during this meeting. Petitioners may pursue further remedies under the city charter and state law.
