Court rules for Independence Nebius data center project

Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Phillips denied the request for declaratory judgment and quashed a previous order granting temporary injunctive relief. The ruling rejected a lawsuit that sought to put tax incentives for the Nebius data center project to a public vote. The lawsuit was filed Phillips determined that the ordinance went into effect immediately and is not subject to a referendum The city council had approved the industrial revenue bonds in a 5-2 vote to finance the construction. The court sided with the city on exceptions to the referendum clause for specific contracts and bond issuances. The city shared a statement after the ruling. It said the decision reinforces the balance built into the City Charter, allowing the city to carry out specific projects while protecting residents' ability to challenge certain types of ordinances.