Tax Fighters Push To Crackdown On PortKC

For our smartest readers . . .

This tax fighter call to action might be the first step in public frustration with the unchecked power of PortKC.

Here's the word and the premise for trending complaints against the shady agency . . . Check-it:  

If Kansas City’s leaders are unwilling to demand more, state legislators must.

PortKC’s portfolio has grown far beyond its original mission. What began as a focus on river commerce has become one of the region’s most powerful economic development organizations, issuing subsidies, facilitating real estate deals and exercising authority that often receives less scrutiny.

The General Assembly should revisit Missouri’s port authority statutes. Major subsidy applications should be subject to stronger disclosure requirements regarding litigation, arbitration, financial risks and significant project changes. Truly independent financial reviews—not ones funded by the applicant—should be required before subsidies are approved. Local taxing jurisdictions should play a greater role. And lawmakers should remove the glaring conflicts in which agencies benefit from development deals they approve.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

MoIndie: PortKC’s oversight failures are now Missouri lawmakers’ problem