An in-depth look at Kansas City’s latest financial plan aimed at community and infrastructural advancement.
Initiatives focus on public safety, housing, security, and economic development
On February 6, Mayor Quinton Lucas and City Manager Brian Platt presented the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget to the City Council for review and approval. This budget shifts Kansas City’s traditional budget process to priority-based budgeting. This year’s budget accelerates progress in development, small business expansion, active and vibrant neighborhoods, and housing security. Residents are invited to share feedback at three community meetings or via the online portal.
“I am proud that we are in Kansas City’s strongest ever financial position, which allows us to resurface more streets, build more housing, improve our parks, and to deliver the basic services and world-class amenities Kansas Citians can expect from their well-run local government,” said Mayor Quinton Lucas.
“We continue to elevate the quality of basic services and add new programs and initiatives based on the needs of our residents, while also maintaining our strongest fiscal position ever. We are so proud of and grateful for our finance and budget team that has found creative ways to fund all our programs and for all of us to be successful,” said City Manager Brian Platt.
Highlights of the Proposed 2025-26 Budget Include:
Housing and Healthy Communities
This goal totals $314.5 million, representing an increase of $13.2 million
Adds $1.4 million for illegal dumping enforcement
Adds $1.0 million for emergency rental assistance and $1.0 million to expand emergency shelter beyond extreme weather
Adds $1.8 million for ZeroKC to include five new positions to support efforts for the City’s initiative to end homelessness, with $750,000 of dedicated funding for homeless encampment clean up
Adds $2.0 million for World Cup Legacy Projects
Includes $12.5 million for year three of four, for a total investment of $50.0 million to the Housing Trust Fund
Public Safety
Represents largest expense in Governmental Activities budget, totaling $688.3 million
Public Safety accounts for 72.7% of General Fund and 41.6% of Governmental Activities Budget, and increases $71.9 million
Prioritizes increase in wages and benefits to ensure KCPD can recruit and retain quality public safety officers, and ensures competitive compensation for fire and emergency services personnel
Adds $1.0 million to support security needs in entertainment districts
Supports efficient court operations despite decline in citation volumes
Infrastructure & Accessibility
This goal totals $341.4 million, representing an increase of $17.5 million
Adds $3.0 million for Vision Zero, creating a safer Kansas City for all
Adds $2.6 million for operation and maintenance of the Streetcar-Main Street extension
Adds $4.0 million for LED streetlight conversion
Supports regional transportation with $69.9 million for KCATA, including $40.6 million from dedicated sales tax for transit operations
Continued support for enhanced snow removal operations, and sidewalk improvements
Inclusive Growth & Development
This goal totals $161.4 million, representing a decrease of $4.0 million
Adds $500,000 for a contract management division and additional advocacy services
Adds $2.5 million for maintenance and event support for City convention facilities
Adds $2.4 million for VisitKC tourism efforts
Reorganized City Planning and Development to promote efficiency while continuing development activities at a productive pace
Finance & Governance
This goal totals $149.0 million, representing an increase of $26.2 million
Adds $10.2 million for year one of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software implementation (estimated $20.0 million total)
Adds $10.8 million of new facility improvement and City Hall repairs
Adds $1.1 million for replacement of fleet and EV charging stations
Adds 16 positions at $1.4 million for the Investigations Division in Human Resources
Adds $413,000 for new software for case management and legal research
Budget Timeline
Feb 6: Budget delivered to City Council
Feb 15: Public Budget Hearing, 9 am – Noon at Gregg/Klice Community Center (Language Access Available)
Feb 24: Public Budget Hearing, 6 pm – 8:30 pm at Woodneath Library Center
Feb 27: Budget Ordinance introduced during Legislative Session
Mar 1: Public Budget Hearing, 9 am – Noon at Goppert Performing Arts Center (Language Access Available)
Mar 5: City Council Budget Amendments Submitted
Mar 20: 2025-2026 Budget Adoption
May 1: Beginning of 2025-26 Fiscal Year
Explore the full budget or provide feedback online by visiting KCMO.gov/budget.
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