SB 602 - This act sets up a procedure whereby voters who reside in the Kansas City school district and also in the city of Independence may petition to annex the territory of the Kansas City school district that is located in the city of Independence to the Independence school district. Ten percent of the number of voters who voted in the last annual school board election and who reside in the aforementioned territory may petition the Independence school district for annexation to that district and a change of school boundaries. A majority vote by the Independence school board shall be required to accept the petition for annexation and a change of school boundaries. Upon acceptance, an election shall be held in the territory petitioned for annexation and boundary change. The election shall be held within one year after the vote of acceptance by the Independence school district. The act contains ballot language. The Independence school district shall incur the cost of the election. The voters in the territory subject to annexation and school boundary change shall decide the question by a majority vote. If assent to the annexation and boundary change is given by the annexing territory, the annexation and boundary change shall go into effect the subsequent fifteenth day of June, at which time the school tax property levy in the annexed territory shall be set at the same rate as the school tax levy in the Independence school district.
DONALD THALHUBER