Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas pushed back Monday on claims that the city is quietly moving forward with a taxpayer-funded stadium deal for the Kansas City Royals without a public vote.In a social media post, Rep. Mike Jones, a Republican from Platte County, said Lucas is seeking to direct $500 million in public money through the KC Port Authority to build a new stadium in Kansas City without voter approval.Lucas said he has not pursued such a plan and criticized the level of speculation surrounding the Royals’ future.“I have not,” Lucas said. “And so I think the longer-term question for us is going to be, in some ways, there’s been so much speculation as it relates to the baseball stadium issue. I’m not going to participate in all the speculation on the baseball stadium issue.”Lucas told KMBC that any proposal to keep the Royals in Kansas City would go through the Kansas City Council.Jones said a City Council vote is a step in the right direction, adding residents should have a more direct say.“A city council vote, I think that’s good. I mean at least somebody that represents the people,” Jones said. “I think the people need a voice one way or another.”Lucas reiterated said the city’s focus remains on retaining the Royals while protecting taxpayers.“We want to find a way to get the Royals to stay in Kansas City, and a big part of how we want to do that is to make sure that we’re talking about any type of package that’s fair and responsible to our taxpayers,” he said.Meanwhile, Jones said he plans to introduce legislation in Jefferson City that would require voter approval for any local funding package exceeding $100 million under the Show-Me Sports Investment Act.“I think it’s pretty simple. This should be a bipartisan effort,” Jones said. “Being on the side of the taxpayer shouldn’t be Republican or Democrat. It’s just common sense.”

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas pushed back Monday on claims that the city is quietly moving forward with a taxpayer-funded stadium deal for the Kansas City Royals without a public vote.

In a social media post, Rep. Mike Jones, a Republican from Platte County, said Lucas is seeking to direct $500 million in public money through the KC Port Authority to build a new stadium in Kansas City without voter approval.

Lucas said he has not pursued such a plan and criticized the level of speculation surrounding the Royals’ future.

“I have not,” Lucas said. “And so I think the longer-term question for us is going to be, in some ways, there’s been so much speculation as it relates to the baseball stadium issue. I’m not going to participate in all the speculation on the baseball stadium issue.”

Lucas told KMBC that any proposal to keep the Royals in Kansas City would go through the Kansas City Council.

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Jones said a City Council vote is a step in the right direction, adding residents should have a more direct say.

“A city council vote, I think that’s good. I mean at least somebody that represents the people,” Jones said. “I think the people need a voice one way or another.”

Lucas reiterated said the city’s focus remains on retaining the Royals while protecting taxpayers.

“We want to find a way to get the Royals to stay in Kansas City, and a big part of how we want to do that is to make sure that we’re talking about any type of package that’s fair and responsible to our taxpayers,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jones said he plans to introduce legislation in Jefferson City that would require voter approval for any local funding package exceeding $100 million under the Show-Me Sports Investment Act.

“I think it’s pretty simple. This should be a bipartisan effort,” Jones said. “Being on the side of the taxpayer shouldn’t be Republican or Democrat. It’s just common sense.”