RESOLUTION NO. 240049

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Sponsor:  Councilmember Andrea Bough

RESOLUTION - Honoring Mari Ruck on her retirement after nearly 20 years of dedicated service to the City of Kansas City, Missouri.

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WHEREAS, Mari Ruck joined the City of Kansas City, Missouri in 2004 as a Municipal Revenue Agent in the Finance Department and was promoted to Commissioner of Revenue in 2010 and was beneficiary of the City’s tuition reimbursement program which afforded her the opportunity to complete her Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Missouri - Kansas City in 2012 and certificate in Tax Policy from Harvard University; and

WHEREAS, Mari implemented innovations as Commissioner to improve efficiency in tax administration including the first update to the City’s Earnings Tax regulations in over 38 years, implementation of the first ever Convention and Tourism Tax regulations, advocated for mandated electronic filing of City tax returns resulting in more than 90% of returns being filed electronically, utilized IRS matching data to identify non-filing taxpayers increasing annual collections from $71,000 in 2013 to $7.3 million in 2023 and significantly closed the City’s tax gap; and

WHEREAS, Mari was instrumental in the implementation of Gentax, the City’s revenue system, in 2012 which is regarded as one of the most successful software installations in the City’s history and actively worked with the Citizens Commission on Municipal Revenue resulting in adoption of a codified Revenue Policy; and

WHEREAS, Mari transformed the work culture of the Revenue Division during her tenure, forged meaningful relationships with staff and prioritized taxpayer rights and customer service. She implemented a new phone system and call taking standards resulting in a dramatic reduction in dropped call rate; and

WHEREAS, Mari has served as a board member for the UMKC Bloch School Public Affairs Advisory Council and the Bloch School Council and coordinated a scholarship for City employees seeking advanced degrees at UMKC.  She also is an accomplished chef and is famous among Finance Department staff for her cinnamon rolls; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

That the Mayor and Council hereby honor Mari Ruck on her retirement after nearly 20 years of dedicated service to the City of Kansas City, Missouri; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council in testimony thereof and that a copy hereof be presented to Mari Ruck in token of the Mayor and Council's respect and high regard and their best wishes for a long and happy retirement which she so richly deserves.

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