Harrisonville leaders set first reading of 1% sales tax proposal for public safety to go on Nov. 4 ballot
July 21, 2025 | Harrisonville City, Cass County, Missouri
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The Board of Aldermen of the City of Harrisonville held a first reading on an ordinance July 21 that would add 1 percentage point to the city’s general sales tax — bringing the city’s general rate to 1.25% — and submit the proposal to voters on Nov. 4, 2025.
The measure is presented as a public-safety sales tax to support ambulance service, the police department and other public-safety-related needs including animal-shelter costs. City Administrator Brad Ratliff told aldermen the proposal follows direction from an April retreat to prepare a ballot measure and said the change would be put before voters at the November general election.
Ratliff said the city’s current general sales tax rate is 0.25% and the proposed additional 1% would bring Harrisonville closer to neighboring cities. “Our main thrust of the need is for our public safety, with our ambulance service, with the police department, even even some needs we've had at the animal shelter,” Ratliff said. He also cited comparisons showing combined sales-tax rates in nearby municipalities that are higher than Harrisonville’s current combined rate.
City staff provided several figures during the presentation: Harrisonville’s combined sales tax is about 2.3%; Belton’s combined rate was described as 3.25% in the presentation. Ratliff also cited property-tax levies in neighboring jurisdictions and said most purchases in Harrisonville are made by nonresidents — he referenced Pacer AI data indicating that roughly 90% of people buying things in Harrisonville do not live in the city.
The ordinance is being considered under a standard (simple majority) approval by voters if placed on the ballot, city staff said. Ratliff and aldermen discussed messaging and outreach to explain that out‑of‑town shoppers help pay for the tax in proportion to local retail traffic. Aldermen asked clarifying questions about how the additional rate would change the city’s overall combined tax rate; city staff said the proposal would increase the city’s general sales-tax portion to 1.25% and noted combined rates in the region typically exceed Harrisonville’s current combined figure.
No public comment was offered on the measure during the meeting. The ordinance will return to the Board for a second reading at the Aug. 4 meeting.
The board did not take a final vote on the sales-tax proposal at the July 21 meeting; the record shows only the first reading and staff presentation.
The measure is presented as a public-safety sales tax to support ambulance service, the police department and other public-safety-related needs including animal-shelter costs. City Administrator Brad Ratliff told aldermen the proposal follows direction from an April retreat to prepare a ballot measure and said the change would be put before voters at the November general election.
Ratliff said the city’s current general sales tax rate is 0.25% and the proposed additional 1% would bring Harrisonville closer to neighboring cities. “Our main thrust of the need is for our public safety, with our ambulance service, with the police department, even even some needs we've had at the animal shelter,” Ratliff said. He also cited comparisons showing combined sales-tax rates in nearby municipalities that are higher than Harrisonville’s current combined rate.
City staff provided several figures during the presentation: Harrisonville’s combined sales tax is about 2.3%; Belton’s combined rate was described as 3.25% in the presentation. Ratliff also cited property-tax levies in neighboring jurisdictions and said most purchases in Harrisonville are made by nonresidents — he referenced Pacer AI data indicating that roughly 90% of people buying things in Harrisonville do not live in the city.
The ordinance is being considered under a standard (simple majority) approval by voters if placed on the ballot, city staff said. Ratliff and aldermen discussed messaging and outreach to explain that out‑of‑town shoppers help pay for the tax in proportion to local retail traffic. Aldermen asked clarifying questions about how the additional rate would change the city’s overall combined tax rate; city staff said the proposal would increase the city’s general sales-tax portion to 1.25% and noted combined rates in the region typically exceed Harrisonville’s current combined figure.
No public comment was offered on the measure during the meeting. The ordinance will return to the Board for a second reading at the Aug. 4 meeting.
The board did not take a final vote on the sales-tax proposal at the July 21 meeting; the record shows only the first reading and staff presentation.
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