Prop C Election (Archive)
This page is maintained for archival purposes and reflects information shared ahead of the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District’s April 7, 2026 full Proposition C waiver election. The measure was approved by voters with 60.14% support. This page reflects information as it was presented at that time and is no longer actively maintained.
On April 7, 2026, the Lee's Summit R-7 School District is asking voters to consider a full waiver of its state-mandated property tax rollback associated with Proposition C.
Overview
Prop C is a statewide 1% sales tax for public education, approved in 1982, that supports Missouri school districts.
Prop C requires school districts to reduce or "rollback" their local tax levy unless their voters approve a proposition to eliminate or "waive" that requirement.
LSR7 is asking voters to consider a full waiver of its Prop C rollback.
District Impact
LSR7 currently operates under a partial waiver approved in 2008. Even with that partial waiver, required rollbacks reduce district operating revenue by $3–4.5 million each year.
If approved, a full waiver generates additional operating revenue each year that the district plans to use to fund and maintain increases in staff salaries and benefits starting in the 2026-27 school year.
Voter approval of a full Prop C waiver:
- Retains an additional $3–4.5 million in annual operating revenue that the district will use to improve and maintain increases in staff salaries and benefits.
- Aligns LSR7 with the 91% of Missouri school districts whose communities have already approved a full waiver.
- Provides the district a stable and predictable funding source
- Helps improve competitiveness with other Kansas City–area districts
- Supports recruitment and retention of quality staff
Taxpayer Impact
Using the district’s 2025 valuation and rollback, the estimated impact for a home valued at $100,000 this year would be an increase of about $23.90 per year.
- 100K Home: $23.90 per year ($2 per month)
- 200K Home: $47.80 per year ($4 per month)
- 300K Home: $71.70 per year ($6 per month)
- 400K Home: $95.60 per year ($8 per month)
- 500K Home: $119.50 per year ($10 per month)
Voter support of a full Prop C waiver would have zero impact on the residential tax bills of seniors receiving SB190 property tax relief.
At A Glance:
What’s on the ballot?
A question asking voters to approve a full waiver of the district’s Proposition C rollback.
Estimated impact to homeowners:
About +$23.90 per year for every $100,000 of home value.
Estimated impact to district:
Approximately +$3–4.5 million in annual operating revenue.
How would funds be used?
To fund and maintain increases in teacher and staff salaries and benefits.
Vote required:
Simple majority.
More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Proposition C?
Proposition C is a 1-cent statewide sales tax approved by Missouri voters in 1982. Its purpose is to provide funding for K-12 public education. School districts receive the full amount of Proposition C revenue from the state on a per-pupil basis. Districts are then required to reduce their operating levy by the amount that would generate half of that revenue locally. This rollback returns half of the Proposition C funding to taxpayers through lower property tax rates.
What is a full Proposition C waiver?
A full Proposition C waiver allows a school district, with voter approval, to waive the requirement to reduce property tax rates in proportion to Proposition C revenue. This means the district retains the full value of the revenue generated by Prop C without reducing its local levy.
How common are Proposition C waivers?
Most school districts in Missouri (471 out of 518) have approved full Proposition C waivers. Some districts, like LSR7, also have partial waivers, which reduce but don’t eliminate the revenue loss from their rollback.
Why do some districts seek a Proposition C waiver?
Without a full waiver, districts lose significant funding due to the required rollback. For most districts, this funding is critical for operational expenses like teacher salaries, classroom resources, and student programs. LSR7 has a partial waiver of $.20 approved in 2008. However, even after the partial waiver is applied, LSR7 “rolls off” $3 to $4.5 million dollars off its local levy each year.
Is a Prop C full waiver a tax rate increase?
If approved today, a full Proposition C waiver would result in a 12-cent increase to the district’s operating tax levy rate. Voter support of a full Prop C waiver would have zero impact on the residential tax bills of seniors receiving SB190 property tax relief.
How does a full Proposition C waiver impact taxpayers?
Using the district’s 2025 valuation and rollback, the estimated impact for a home valued at $100,000 this year would be an increase of about $23.90 per year.
- 100K Home: $23.90 per year ($2 per month)
- 200K Home: $47.80 per year ($4 per month)
- 300K Home: $71.70 per year ($6 per month)
- 400K Home: $95.60 per year ($8 per month)
- 500K Home: $119.50 per year ($10 per month)
How would a full Proposition C waiver impact LSR7?
If approved by voters, a full waiver would allow the district to retain all Proposition C revenue rather than continuing to reduce its local levy. Based on recent rollback amounts, a full waiver would represent approximately $3 million to $4.5 million in annual revenue. District leaders have committed this revenue to fund and maintain increases in staff salaries and benefits beginning in the 2026-27 school year.
Why is LSR7 proposing a full Prop C waiver?
LSR7 is proposing a full Prop C waiver to create stable, ongoing funding that allows the district to increase and sustain staff salaries at a level that outpaces inflation — ensuring compensation keeps pace with the cost of living over time. A full waiver also provides stable, recurring funding to help LSR7 be more competitive.
Over multiple years, district advisory groups have recommended asking voters to consider a full Proposition C waiver. In both 2022 and 2024, the Citizens' Advisory Committee (CAC), along with the Business Roundtable, Teacher Advisory Committee, and Administrative Roundtable, supported placing the question on the ballot.
In 2024, the CAC also recommended that any additional revenue from a full waiver be directed toward teacher and staff compensation.
In March 2025, the Board of Education of the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District unanimously adopted a resolution expressing its intent to place a full Proposition C waiver on the April 2026 ballot.
Ultimately, LSR7's full waiver question allows voters to decide whether keeping additional Prop C revenue locally and realizing the full impact of our local tax rate is a community priority.
How are recommendations about employee compensation developed?
TEAM LS is a representative group of district employees representing all staff groups that meets throughout the year to make recommendations — based on staff feedback, market comparisons, and district budget estimates — to the Superintendent on salaries, compensation, and the overall work environment. If the Prop C waiver is approved, the TEAM LS recommendation for salary improvements received by the Board of Education in March 2026 will be considered by the Board of Education at a special session on April 9.
Will Prop C waiver funds be reallocated annually?
No. While a full Prop C waiver would add approximately $3.5–$4 million to the district’s operating fund, its intended purpose is to fund and sustain salary improvements for all staff. If proposed salary increases are implemented, these increases become ongoing commitments, meaning the additional revenue maintains those salary levels and is not used for new purposes each year.
What is the ballot language?
Shall the Board of Education of Reorganized School District No. 7 of Jackson County, Missouri (Lee’s Summit R-7) be authorized to fully waive the Proposition C operating tax levy roll back, as provided under Section 164.013 RSMo., for school purposes including improving staff salaries?
How does LSR7's starting salary for teachers compare to other school districts?
The district’s current base teacher salary ranks 13th out of 22 Kansas City–area school districts. Lee's Summit's current starting teacher salary of $44,180 falls behind the following schools:
- Park Hill - $48,525
- KCMO - $48,150
- Independence - $47,495
- North Kansas City - $46,501
- Hickman Mills - $46,500
- Platte County - $46,021
- Smithville - $45,613
- Liberty - $45,386
- Fort Osage - $45,200
- Kearney - $45,000
- Center - $44,580
- Belton - $44,300
- Lee's Summit - $44,180
How does LSR7's tax rate compare to other school districts?
LSR7 has the lowest tax rate among Big 6 school districts (school districts with a student population greater than 10,000). LSR7 has the lowest tax rate of Jackson County public schools.
How is a Proposition C waiver decided?
A Proposition C waiver must be approved by a simple majority of voters in a local election.
What are election deadlines?
- Election Day: April 7, 2026
- Absentee (In-Person): Feb. 24, 2026
- Voter Registration Deadline: March 11, 2026
- Two-Week No Excuse Voting: March 24, 2026
Visit your Election Board website for more information.
Paid for by the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District – Dr. David Buck, Superintendent, 301 NE Tudor Road, Lee’s Summit, MO 64086