– New state law increases minimum funding Kansas City must allocate to its police department
– Missouri’s attorney general’s office argues that law does not impose cost on the city or violate the state constitution
– Kansas City’s mayor argues that the funding mandate should be dismissed by Missouri Supreme Court
Law Change Impacting Kansas City Police Department
A recent Missouri state law decreeing a rise in the minimum financial support Kansas City must endorse its police department with has stirred up controversy. Yet, the Missouri attorney general’s office refutes claims of the law’s violation of state constitution and imposition of additional costs upon the city.
The Background
Jeff Johnson, the Deputy Solicitor General representing the state auditor and secretary of state, addressed the Missouri Supreme Court on Wednesday, defending the legislation that puts compulsion on cities to amp up their contribution to law enforcement.
The Counterargument
Contrary to the above, Kansas City’s mayor is holding the banner of disagreement high, presenting the argument that this enforcement should be overruled by the Missouri Supreme Court.
The Breezy Take
The clash between Missouri’s attorney general’s office and Kansas City’s mayor over the new law implementing a surge in police funding puts a glaring light on the ever-thorny issue of law-enforcement funding – a perennial hot potato in the plate of politics. As per the pro-law state, it neither imposes an additional cost on Kansas City nor transgresses the constitution; but the mayor begs to differ. The city’s top executive is lobbying for the mandate’s dismissal, instigating a courtroom tussle that could have far-reaching implications for police departments in Kansas City and beyond. It’s watch-this-space to see how this tug-of-funding will turn out.
Original article: https://missouriindependent.com/2023/09/27/kc-mayor-argues-police-funding-mandate-should-be-tossed-by-missouri-supreme-court/