Kansas Citians on Tuesday will be asked if they want to renew the city's 1% earned income tax on residents, businesses and workers.

Why it matters: The earnings tax generates almost half of KCMO's $844.2 million general fund, but state law requires the tax to be put to a vote every five years.

Context: This is not a new tax. The city voted in 1963 to establish a 0.5% earnings tax, which was raised to 1% in 1970 and has remained at that rate ever since.

• Voters approved extending the tax by a 77-78% majority in 2011, 2016 and 2021.
• A 2021 state law says new earnings taxes can't be imposed, so getting rid of it means it's gone for good.

Zoom in: The city's general fund makes up a majority of the police budget, along with significant funding for the fire department, roadwork, snow removal and trash collection.

• 46% of the earnings tax comes from nonresidents, meaning folks who commute into KCMO pay for a large share of the city's infrastructure and services.

What they're saying: Mayor Quinton Lucas, most council members and a large coalition of local organizations are urging residents to vote yes.

• The Greater KC Chamber of Commerce also "strongly supports renewing the earnings tax," stating it's vital for the successful operations of local businesses.

The other side: 1st District Councilmember Nathan Willett has said he will vote no. He did not respond to Axios' questions as to why.

• Opponents say the tax discourages population growth, and the flat rate disproportionately affects low-income families.
• Missouri Republicans in 2023 recommended phasing out the earnings tax, while raising other taxes to match the loss in revenue.

Reality check: KC finance officials say the city would have to double its sales tax or quadruple its property tax rates to make up for the earnings tax, The Beacon reported.

If you go: The polls are open from 6am to 7pm on Tuesday.

• Check your voting location online.

Independence's next mayor may be decided over a plan to build a massive AI data center with major tax incentives.

Why it matters: The $150.6 billion project has split the two leading candidates, with one backing the incentives and the other pushing for a public vote.

Zoom in: Bridget McCandless, a city councilmember and health professional, is running against Kevin King, a labor advocate and businessman.

• McCandless led the February primary with 42.6% of the vote; King placed second with 22%.
• Mayor Rory Rowland, elected in 2022, is not running again.

Catch up quick: Dutch company Nebius plans to build on nearly 400 acres along the Little Blue River in eastern Independence.

• The city council in March voted 5-2 to waive most of the data center's property and real estate taxes for 20 years, amounting to over $6 billion in tax breaks.
• Nebius will instead pay the city through PILOT fees that would increase over time and total roughly $651 million. Independence School District would get a little more than half. Other beneficiaries include libraries, the city and the county.
• Residents raised concerns about environmental impact, health and government transparency during the 5 1/2-hour meeting.

State of play: McCandless voted for the project, touting its fiscal benefits.

• King initially advocated for the data center, but he wanted stronger community benefits and later signed a petition to bring the deal to a public vote.
• A judge ruled against the petition since the ordinance had already been approved.

What they're saying: "We need leadership that stops cutting the public out and starts putting people back at the center of decisions," King stated on Facebook after the judge's ruling.

The other side: McCandless defended the vote by pointing to contractual protections with Nebius against power grid, workforce and safety issues, and said the deal was made with the entire city's population in mind.

• "I'm not going to vote for something that's going to endanger myself, my family, my community," McCandless said at the vote.

Between the lines: Two at-large council seats are also on the ballot, including McCandless' current seat along with incumbent Jared Fears, who supported the project.

• Of the other three challengers, only Jackie Dorman has spoken out against the deal, KCUR reports.

The bottom line: Organizers against the project vow to vote for King and Dorman.

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🚧 Expect fewer cones during the World Cup. Traffic officials are working to reduce lane closures on the highways and plan projects on either end of the tournament. (Kansas City Business Journal)

🥤 Missouri's legislature passed a ban on hemp products sold outside of licensed dispensaries, including drinks with THC sold in bars and smoke shops. The bill would take effect on Nov. 12. (KCUR)

🔔 The carillon bells are back at the Plaza's Giralda Tower at 47th Street and Mill Creek Parkway. The first chimes sounded on Easter and will ring out on the hour during the daytime. (Kansas City Star)

Editor Chloe here to talk about the KC Streetcar.

The big picture: Abbey and Travis have hyped up the streetcar quite a bit, and I admit I was a little skeptical.

• I visited Kansas City for the first time this week, and the streetcar did not disappoint.

The vibe: We couldn't use it to access every place we visited, but it got us to a lot of them. It was quick, easy and not too crowded.

• Plus: I did not see a single mystery liquid.

The bottom line: As far as public transportation goes, the streetcar gets a 9/10 from me.

• It's not quite as good as the heated seats in my car, but it's pretty close.