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Jackson County Courthouse Independence MO-croppedPhoto: TheCatalyst31 with modifications by Kbh3rd · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Independence

How is Independence run?

Independence’s city government spent $101.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, about $834 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($129.8 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

Executive Sessions

4:30 pm · 20201 E. Jackson Drive, First Floor, Executive Conference Room

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2023
$101.8M
year to June 30, 2023
Per resident, 2023
$834
2022 was an estimate · not compared
Long-term debt
$449.9M
end of FY2023, reported
City staff, 2025
876
full-time · 57 part-time · March payroll $6.7M · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$1,914
1.11% of home value · MO 0.85%

What stands out about how Independence is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Runs its own water & sewer65% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2023).A shared school districtShares Independence 30 School District with 1 other town.Split between districts4 State House and 3 U.S. House districts cover Independence; your street decides yours.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Independence’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

  • Oct27
    Planning CommissionTuesday · 6:00 pm · 20201 E Jackson DrivePlanning Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct27
    Special MeetingsTuesday · 2:00 pm · 20201 E Jackson DriveStayWell Committee MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct22
    Advisory Committee MeetingsThursday · 5:00 pm · 416 W Maple AveSustainability Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct19
    Council MeetingsMonday · 6:00 pm · 20201 E. Jackson Drive, Council Chambers, First FloorRegular City Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct19
    Executive SessionsMonday · 4:30 pm · 20201 E. Jackson Drive, First Floor, Executive Conference RoomCLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSIONAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2023 budget

About $834 per resident a year, or $2.28 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 33%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 54%Sales taxes 26%Fees & charges 16%Property taxes 3%Other taxes & licenses 1%Interest, fines & other 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $91,000; interest on debt $18.7 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $250.5 million.
Compared with similar places · Over the years

No comparison or trend for Independence yet

The fair comparison uses 2022, the last year the Census Bureau counted every government (later years are a sample), and Independence’s 2022 figures are a Census estimate (it reported none of its 2022 dollars). It reported 2023 only (2022 and 2024 are estimates), so there is no trend yet either. The next full count is 2027.

How Town Hall compares budgets →
City staff
876

full-time in March 2025, up from 851 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,914 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.11% of the home’s value, vs 0.85% across Missouri.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Lee's Summit$3,869
Blue Springs$3,324
Kansas City$2,671
Missouri$1,948
Independence$1,914
Sugar Creek$1,523
Blue Summit$860
$1,914
typical bill a year
1.11%
effective rate
$172,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Independence’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to Independence’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Independence →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Independence

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See independencemo.gov for Independence’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Independence yet.independencemo.gov ↗
Who works for Independence

One full-time city employee for every 139 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2023 finance file (122,088).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Police236 + 2 pt
Fire178 + 1 pt
Water & other utilities178
Parks & libraries44 + 44 pt
Sewer & trash56
Administration & buildings35
Roads & transportation30 + 1 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections28 + 2 pt
Housing & development9 + 1 pt
Health & welfare6
Other76 + 6 pt
876
full-time
57
part-time
$6.7M
payroll for March 2025
$79.8M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$90,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
202
sworn police officers
169
full-time firefighters
Estimates.Independence didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Independence 30 School District

Independence’s K–12 school district, shared with Sugar Creek. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Independence →
$12,949
per pupil · MO $14,569
14,168
students
$147.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,949 per pupil, $6,422 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 42%State 45%Federal 13%

Missouri districts overall: 54% local, 35% state, 11% federal.

Also serving Independence

Fort Osage R-I School District · $13,905 per pupil

Blue Springs R-IV School District · $13,612 per pupil

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

Independence’s votes are counted by county

Missouri reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Independence alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Jackson County’s results.

President · Jackson County’s results318,017 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat58.8%187,026 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican39.5%125,610 votes

Others: 1.7% (5,381 votes).

Most votes in Jackson County: Kamala D Harris

Missouri: Trump 58.5%, Harris 40.1%

The county’s page

100% of Independence lies in Jackson County; the rest in Clay County. Every 2024 race in Jackson County is on the county’s page.

Jackson County’s 2024 results →
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Independence

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Independence.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: independencemo.gov ↗
  2. 2
    Missouri HouseIndependence is split between 4 districts
    Mike SteinmeyerWill JobeYolanda Young
  3. 3
    Missouri SenateState senator
    Joe Nicola
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Mike Kehoe
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseSplit between districts
    Emanuel CleaverSam GravesMark Alford
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Missouri
    Josh HawleyEric Schmitt
Find your state legislators by address ↗Find your House district by ZIP code ↗

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Independence compares with the towns next door

Independence’s 2022 figures are a Census estimate, so it isn’t placed among them. Neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,060 to $2,078 per resident. Tap a town to see its page.

Blue Springs: no reported 2022 figuresKansas City: $2,078 per resident (2022)Sugar Creek: no reported 2022 figuresLee's Summit: $1,060 per resident (2022)Blue Summit: unincorporated, no town budgetBlue SpringsKansas CitySugar CreekLee's SummitBlue SummitIndependence
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Lee's Summit$1,060$3,869
Kansas City$2,078$2,671
Blue Springsestimate$3,324
Sugar Creekestimate$1,523
Independenceestimate$1,914

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Independence’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →
Official websiteindependencemo.gov ↗

Questions about Independence’s government

How much does Independence spend per resident?

About $834 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, as reported to the Census Bureau.

What is the property tax rate in Independence?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,914 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.11% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.85% across Missouri. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see independencemo.gov.

Who runs Independence’s government?

See independencemo.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Independence yet.

How did Independence vote in 2024?

Missouri counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Independence alone. Jackson County, where 100% of Independence lies, voted Harris 58.8%, Trump 39.5% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Independence?

876 full-time and 57 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $6.7M (about $79.8M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Independence in the state legislature?

Independence is split among 4 State House districts, so your address decides. The Missouri Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 11 (Joe Nicola). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Independence?

The next posted meeting is Executive Sessions on Monday, November 2, at 4:30 pm in 20201 E. Jackson Drive, First Floor, Executive Conference Room, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Independence’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →