City of Prairie Village
Home MenuLegislative Platform
Each year, the Governing Body adopts its Legislative Platform to share with Prairie Village legislators at the state and federal level.
The City of Prairie Village endorses the League of Kansas Municipalities 2024 Statement of Municipal Policy. In addition, the following topics are the top legislative priorities for the City of Prairie Village in 2024:
Local Control
Our local communities across the state are best served and residents' values and standards are best reflected when local taxing and spending are determined by local voters and taxpayers. We support the retention and strengthening of local home rule authority to allow locally elected officials to conduct the business of their jurisdiction in a manner that best reflects the desires of their constituents and results in maximum benefit to that community. This includes matters dealing with public health and safety, such as local health orders and rental inspections, and the ability to govern possession of firearms in public spaces in the interest of community safety.
Tax Policy & Dark Store
We support stable revenue sources and urge the Kansas Legislature to avoid applying any further exemptions to the ad valorem property tax base, including exceptions for specific business entities or the state/local sales tax base, as well as industry-specific special tax treatment through exemptions or property classification. State policy changes shifted the local tax burden too far toward residential property taxes. We do not support changes in State taxation policy that would narrow the tax base or significantly reduce available funding for key programs, including artificial caps on property valuations. These changes put Kansas counties and cities at a competitive tax disadvantage with Missouri. We also strongly support legislation that would require commercial properties to be appraised and valued based on their highest and best use and oppose any legislation that utilizes the "dark store theory" to appeal their assessed valuations. Municipalities rely on commercial and residential property tax revenue to pay their share of essential city services. Any changes in commercial valuation has a detrimental impact to municipal operations and forces the property tax burden to residential property owners.
We strongly oppose any state imposed limits on the taxing and spending authority of cities and counties. We believe those elected to manage the affairs of cities and counties can be most responsive to the local taxpayers and make budget and tax decisions that are most reflective of the community's needs and financial interests. State government should abide by the same taxing and spending decisions they impose on cities and counties. The legislature should address the replacement for the tax lid that was passed in 2021 that intentionally confuses the electorate and causes additional intended problems with taxing policy. The law should return to what it was before the 2021 Legislative change and to the state it was before the tax lid was imposed in 2016 and 2014. If this cannot be accomplished, the current revenue neutral rate process should be amended to include exemptions for inflation and new construction. The State legislature, as required by Kansas statutes, should help relieve the burden on property taxpayers by funding the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction (LAVTR) program.
Legalization of Cannabis
We support the legalization of cannabis and its derivatives.
Sales Tax on Food
We support immediate eliminate of the state portion of sales tax on food. We do not support eliminating the City's portion of sales tax on food, as this is a major source of revenue for cities throughout Kansas, including Prairie Village, and would negatively impact the services provided by local governments throughout Kansas.
Addressing the Climate Crisis as a Public Policy Priority
We believe that climate change poses a global economic, social, and public safety crisis. We support policy makers at all levels of government elevating sustainability and decarbonization to be included among the top line of policy priorities.
Federal Funds
With historic investments in infrastructure, sustainability, and clean energy projects through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, the City of Prairie Village encourages the Legislature and state agencies to provide support, coordination, and guidance to local governments in order to maximize opportunities through federal investments.
Local Firearms Issues
We strongly believe the ability to govern how firearms are possessed and transported throughout our community is a matter of local control. Local government should have the ability to regulate and enforce the possession and use of weapons within City-owned facilities, public parks, municipal pools, and City-owned vehicles. We urge state legislatures to amend K.S.A. 75-7c that restricts local government from enacting important gun safety measures in their communities.
We strongly support constitutionally adequate, equitable, and responsible funding for the public school system to a level that places Kansas among the leading states in support of a "world class" education. We oppose any further reduction in school funding, including any constitutional amendment releasing the legislature from this important duty. We also urge the state government to fund special education at the level required by K.S.A. 72-3422.
Statewide Funding For the Arts
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that the arts and culture sector contributed $4.1billion to Kansas' economy in 2020. We support restoration of state funding for the arts. The arts industry provides jobs, generates revenue and economic activity, and enhances quality of life. The City of Prairie Village recognizes the important role individual artists and creative organizations play in building and sustaining cultural and economic vibrancy in Kansas.
Non-Discrimination
We strongly believe all people should be treated fairly and equally under the law. However, in Kansas, a gap currently exists in the applicable state and federal discrimination laws, leaving LGBTQ people without protection from discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations. While the City of Prairie Village has passed a local non-discrimination ordinance to fill this gap, we urge the State to pass legislation to extend these protections statewide.