KANSAS CITY, MO -
Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Mark Funkhouser will let the city budget become law without his signature, according to a statement released by his office on Wednesday.
Funkhouser, who was the lone dissenter on the budget which passed the City Council by a 12-1 vote last week, said that he could not support a $12 million cut from the Police Department.
"The fact of the matter is I do disagree I do think when citizens come out and tell us this is their highest priority we say we're about community services, this is a basic city service," said Funkhouser in a statement.
Funkhouser, who said that he agreed with the vast majority of cuts made by the council, said he would not veto the budget.
"The veto pen is a strong tool, a tool I have only used once before when I felt that an ordinance violated our constitution and my oath of office," said Funkhouser. "As much as I disagree with the cuts to police in this budget, it does not rise to that level."
Funkhouser, who was the lone dissenter on the budget which passed the City Council by a 12-1 vote last week, said that he could not support a $12 million cut from the Police Department.
"The fact of the matter is I do disagree I do think when citizens come out and tell us this is their highest priority we say we're about community services, this is a basic city service," said Funkhouser in a statement.
Funkhouser, who said that he agreed with the vast majority of cuts made by the council, said he would not veto the budget.
"The veto pen is a strong tool, a tool I have only used once before when I felt that an ordinance violated our constitution and my oath of office," said Funkhouser. "As much as I disagree with the cuts to police in this budget, it does not rise to that level."
