Kansas City Council approves $2.5 billion budget for 2025-26
City leaders note the budget prioritizes housing and community development, public safety, public health, and infrastructure improvements while strengthening the city's fund balance to maintain Kansas City's strong economic standing and credit rating.
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The budget allocates $341.4 million toward infrastructure and accessibility—a $17.5 million increase from last year, according to the city.
This includes:
$71 million for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA), with an additional $6.8 million from a budget amendment to support KCATA and
$3 million for Vision Zero safety initiatives
$2.6 million for operation and maintenance of the Streetcar and its expansion
Enhanced funding for snow removal and sidewalk improvements
$5 million for Blue Ridge Streetscape and Southwest Boulevard projects
Lucas is also sponsoring an ordinance to ensure the maintenance of KCATA's services.
During a Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee meeting earlier this week, city council members complained that the KCATA hasn't been transparent with them on what routes they're planning to cut or what their deficit was.
'This $2.5 billion budget reflects our values as a community and addresses the priorities we've heard directly from our residents. By increasing our investment in housing to over $314 million, dedicating nearly $700 million to public safety, and advancing transformative infrastructure projects, we're not just maintaining services—we're enhancing them. This budget delivers on our promises to make Kansas City more accessible, more affordable, and more equitable for everyone who calls it home,' Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a news release Thursday.
The city said housing remains a top priority with $314.5 million allocated to support initiatives across the city, a $13.2 million increase from the previous year.
This funding will support:
Emergency rental assistance programs
Expanded emergency shelter services
The ZeroKC initiative to end homelessness
World Cup Legacy projects
The Housing Trust Fund
Additionally, $1 million will be direction toward implementing the city's small business strategic plan to prepare Kansas City to fully capitalize on hosting the 2026 World Cup, according to the city.
Nearly $700 million will go towards public safety, an increase of over $70 million from the previous year, according to the city, with over $340 million for the Kansas City Police Department and over $320 million for the Kansas City Fire Department.
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