Jackson County puts extension of arts tax on ballot

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Jackson County has agreed to ask voters in November to extend an existing sales tax to finance the arts in the metropolitan area.

Voters will be asked in the Nov. 5 election to extend the one-eighth-cent sales tax, which generates $240 million a year, with $40 million going toward a downtown Kansas City arts center.

However, the county also outlined at least $80 million more in specific projects it wanted to see throughout Jackson County including a $40 million performing arts center in Independence.

"Too often, eastern Jackson County has been viewed as a set of taxpayers who are asked to fund projects for the people of Kansas City," said county chairman Victor Callahan.