Safety & Justice Alliance
STOP THE JAIL TAX.
PROTECT OUR FUTURE.
Kansas City Deserves Real Safety.
We believe in real public safety solutions that actually make a difference:
✅ More funding for schools and teachers to give kids better opportunities.
✅ Investing in small businesses to create more jobs and a thriving economy.
✅ Housing, mental health, and addiction services to address the root causes of crime.
✅ Stronger, safer neighborhoods where families and businesses can thrive.
About the Jail Tax: The Real Cost of Question 1
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A Nearly Billion-Dollar Toll on Kansas City
On April 8th, Kansas City voters will see the Capital Improvements Sales Tax (Question 1) on their ballot. This tax would direct millions of taxpayer dollars into building a massive new city jail—even though taxpayers are already funding the construction of a new county jail facility. The city jail primarily holds people for low-level, non-violent offenses, while more serious charges, such as violent crimes or property theft over $1,000, are typically handled by the county jail.
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Tax Burden, Fewer Customers, Failing Local Economy
Studies show that cities investing heavily in incarceration instead of small business support, education, and workforce training see higher unemployment and lower economic growth. If this tax passes, Kansas City small businesses could lose millions as public resources are drained into a jail instead of economic opportunity.
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Hurting Families, Helping Wealthy Developers
This tax isn’t about safety—it’s about shifting public money to private developers while leaving working families behind. Instead of investing in safer neighborhoods, the city is prioritizing a project that will increase financial strain and divert taxpayer dollars away from infrastructure, emergency responders, and community development.
Join the movement to stop the Jail Tax and fight for real safety investments in our communities. Vote NO April 8th.