• Publications
    • Essay
    • Case Study
    • Policy Study
    • Report
    • Testimony
    • Other
    • Newsletter
  • Blog
    • Daily Blog
    • Podcasts and Radio
    • Video
    • Infographics
    • Commentary / Op-Eds
    • Events
  • Events
  • Donate
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Show-Me Institute Board of Directors
    • Fellows and Scholars
    • Our Authors
    • Jobs
  • Contact
  • Explore Topics
    • Education
      • Accountability
      • Education Finance
      • Performance
      • School Choice
    • Health Care
      • Free-Market Reform
      • Medicaid
    • Corporate Welfare
      • Special Taxing Districts
      • Subsidies
      • Tax Credits
    • Labor
      • Government Unions
      • Public Pensions
    • State and Local Government
      • Budget and Spending
      • Courts
      • Criminal Justice
      • Municipal Policy
      • Property Rights
      • Transparency
      • Transportation
    • Economy
      • Business Climate
      • Energy
      • Minimum Wage
      • Privatization
      • Regulation
      • Taxes
      • Welfare
      • Workforce
Show Me InstituteShow Me Institute
Show Me InstituteShow Me Institute
Support the Show-Me Institute
  • Publications
    • Essay
    • Case Study
    • Policy Study
    • Report
    • Testimony
    • Other
    • Newsletter
  • Blog
    • Daily Blog
    • Podcasts and Radio
    • Video
    • Infographics
    • Commentary / Op-Eds
    • Events
  • Events
  • Donate
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Show-Me Institute Board of Directors
    • Fellows and Scholars
    • Our Authors
    • Jobs
  • Contact
  • Explore Topics
    • Education
      • Accountability
      • Education Finance
      • Performance
      • School Choice
    • Health Care
      • Free-Market Reform
      • Medicaid
    • Corporate Welfare
      • Special Taxing Districts
      • Subsidies
      • Tax Credits
    • Labor
      • Government Unions
      • Public Pensions
    • State and Local Government
      • Budget and Spending
      • Courts
      • Criminal Justice
      • Municipal Policy
      • Property Rights
      • Transparency
      • Transportation
    • Economy
      • Business Climate
      • Energy
      • Minimum Wage
      • Privatization
      • Regulation
      • Taxes
      • Welfare
      • Workforce
State and Local Government / Budget and Spending

Debating GO Bond Policy

By Patrick Tuohey on Mar 29, 2017

We were disappointed to learn that Mayor Sly James has turned down an offer to debate the Go bonds issue with us.  Nick Haines had extended the invitation for his KCPT program Week in Review. This is an important issue worthy of public debate.

Kansas City voters are being asked to consider borrowing $800 million dollars by issuing bonds backed by an increase in property taxes that will last 40 years. The campaign in favor of the proposal has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from some of the biggest corporations and special interests in Kansas City. The Mayor and members of the City Council have spoken at town hall meetings and on radio and television. And yet serious questions remain.

Show-Me Institute analysts have been skeptical of the city’s GO bond claims for some time. We were the first to point out that the city was proposing 40 years of debt (not 20), the first to expose the city’s misleading tax assumptions, and the first to point out that the city will be able to divert general revenue funds to other unrelated matters.

A policy debate is nothing to fear. For example, on March 20, Councilman Scott Wagner and I discussed the GO bond at the Indian Mound Neighborhood Association. The talk was professional, and I am confident that the room full of attendees were pleased to have both sides represented.

The public only benefits from a government that is transparent and accessible. We reiterate our invitation to the Mayor. If his schedule doesn’t permit the particular time and place offered by KCPT, how about another time and place?  With $800 million at stake, the decision voters make on the GO bond should be an informed one. We can think of no better way to educate Kansas City residents than a debate, and we would welcome an opportunity to join with the Mayor to present two different perspectives on this important issue. 

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Email
  • Print
About the author

Patrick Tuohey

Senior Fellow of Municipal Policy

More about this author >
    Footer Logo
    Support the Show-Me-Institute
    Showmeinstitute.org is brought to you by Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity.
    • Publications
    • Blog
    • Events
    • Donate
    • About
    • Contact

    Reprint permission for Show-Me Institute publications and commentaries is hereby granted, provided that proper credit is given to the author. We request, but do not require, that those who reprint our material notify us of publication for our records: [email protected]

    Mission Statement
    Advancing liberty with responsibility by promoting market solutions for Missouri public policy.

    © Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved