Finance Director Vernon Blaise presented a high‑level overview of the city's finances, emphasizing reliance on municipal income tax, the share of capital spending and a multi‑year reduction in debt.

Blaise told the audience municipal income tax typically accounts for between two‑thirds and three‑quarters of annual revenue and said it currently brings in about $35,000,000 a year. He noted that much of that tax is paid by people who work in Independence but live elsewhere and that the city provides a 100% credit to residents taxed by other cities.

Property tax, Blaise said, accounts for less than 2% of city revenue but remains a seven‑figure source. On spending, Blaise showed operating expenditures consume roughly two‑thirds to three‑quarters of outlays, mostly personnel costs, while capital and infrastructure account for about 20% of spending — roughly $10,000,000 a year — for items such as police cars, ambulances, snowplows, roads and sewers.

Blaise reported the city has not issued new long‑term borrowing in recent years and that total debt has declined about $15 million since 2018. "By the end of this year, that debt will be down to 17,100,000.0," he said, and Mayor Kurtz added that the repayment has given the city flexibility to borrow for future capital needs if council and the administration agree.

The finance briefing framed the city's current cash flow strength as a means to prioritize among roughly $250 million in potential projects while cautioning that the list of projects exceeds available funding and requires careful prioritization.

Speakers quoted in this article:
- Vernon Blaise, Finance Director
- Greg Kurtz, Mayor (contextual comments)

Clarifying details:
- Municipal income tax revenue: about $35,000,000 annually (as stated by Blaise)
- Property tax share: less than 2% of city revenue (Blaise)
- Capital/infrastructure spending share: about 20% of the budget (~$10,000,000/year)
- Debt reduction since 2018: approximately $15,000,000; projected year‑end total debt about $17,100,000

Proper names:
- Independence City Government (government)

Community relevance:
- Geographies: Independence citywide
- Impact groups: taxpayers, city employees, service users

Searchable_tags:["city_finance","municipal_income_tax","debt_reduction" ]

Provenance:{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"t-00:37:41","local_start":0,"local_end":95,"evidence_excerpt":"First slide, where does the money come from? There's your classic pie chart.","tc_start":"00:37:41","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"t-00:41:41","local_start":0,"local_end":95,"evidence_excerpt":"By the end of this year, that debt will be down to 17,100,000.0.","tc_end":"00:41:41","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]}

Salience:{"overall":0.81,"overall_justification":"Revenue composition and debt levels drive the city's capacity to fund proposed capital projects and maintenance.","impact_scope":"local","impact_scope_justification":"Budget and debt affect local service levels, projects and taxes.