INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KCTV) – On Monday afternoon, a Jackson County judge heard arguments from both the City of Independence and residents on a community-led referendum concerning tax abatements on a $100 billion data center that is set to be built off Little Blue Parkway.
The data center has been a topic of debate for months. Independence residents started a social media page, petition, and website against it. Several city council meetings were standing room only with many expressing their opinions for or against the data center and tax abatements for Nebius, the company behind the data center. On March 2, the Independence City Council passed an ordinance containing tax abatements for the project 5-2.
Following the vote, the group against the data center began gathering signatures for a referendum position, wanting the tax breaks would go before a public vote. Independence blocked it, which led to the group suing the city. Last week, a judge issued a temporary hold on referendum deadlines while the lawsuit moves through the court…