Parson Signs KC Police Funding Bill

Governor Mike Parson signed Senate Bill 678 into law on Monday June 27, increasing the Kansas City Police Department's budget from at least 20 percent of Kansas City's general revenue per fiscal year to 25 percent per fiscal year.

“In Missouri, we defend our law enforcement officers who answer the call each and every day to protect and serve Missourians. We don't defund them,” Governor Parson said. “With crime on the rise in cities across the country, we are signing SB 678 to ensure that the KCPD is receiving the necessary resources to support public safety and combat violent crime. We take pride in Missouri's cities, but we refuse to stand idly by and allow criminals to run free. With the help of law enforcement, the business community, and local partners, we are putting shared solutions to work to combat crime in our state.”

Under current law, the City of Kansas City is required to provide at least 20 percent of its general revenue per fiscal year to the Kansas City Board of Police. SB 678 increases the required annual funding to the Board for the Kansas City Police Department to 25 percent of the City's general revenue funds per fiscal year.

“I’m grateful for Governor Parson standing with the brave men and women of the KCPD,” State Senator and bill sponsor Tony Luetkemeyer said. “At a time of historic high crime in Kansas City, we need to be supporting our police, not defunding them.”

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says the bill violates the Missouri Constitution and will be challenged: “The political action today is a step back and yet another action meant to restrict the choices and freedom of the people of Kansas City,” Lucas said.

Lucas and the City Council tried to remove $42 million from the police budget in 2021. The City Council wanted the funds to go to community services. Although the police department would still have been funded at 20 percent of the general revenue as required by state statute, a judge found this action violated state law.

“When a majority of the City Council voted to strip $42 million from KCPD’s budget in 2021, I knew I had to do something to prevent future efforts to defund the police,” Sen. Luetkemeyer said. “This legislation will ensure the KCPD has the resources it needs to keep our community safe and stop similar radical budget cuts going forward.”

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story