Since August 28, 2008, cities within a county with a charter form of government and with more than two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) inhabitants have been subject to a special process for selecting Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Commissioners.
With the Clay County Constitution becoming effective on January 1, 2021, and the most recent 2020 Census data putting the population of Clay County at 253,335 inhabitants, cities within Clay County are subject to this provision. The City has a small amount of land that is within both Independence and Clay County.
RSMo Section 99.820.3 provides that three members of the TIF Commission are appointed by the cities, towns, or villages in the county which have tax increment financing districts in a manner in which the chief elected officials of such cities, towns, or villages agree. The cities within Clay County that currently have TIF Districts include Excelsior Springs, Independence, Kansas City, Kearney, Liberty, North Kansas City, Pleasant Valley and Smithville.
For the appointment of members by the cities within Clay County that currently have tax increment financing districts, the chief elected officials of the cities of Excelsior Springs, Independence, Kansas City, Kearney, Liberty, North Kansas City, and Smithville must agree on a manner in which to appoint those individuals to their respective city’s TIF Commission. This order would allow other cities with territory in Clay County to proceed with their projects without asking Independence for input on the commission selection process.
This order does not change how the City handles their TIF Commission appointments. The City will still continue to operate under the 11-member TIF commission rules with respect to all projects in Jackson County.