Independence Voters Recall Councilman John Perkins Over Data Center Tax Breaks

Voters in Independence, Missouri, recalled City Councilman John Perkins on Tuesday following his support for massive tax incentives for an artificial intelligence data center. According to the Jackson County Board of Elections, 1,118 residents voted in favor of the recall, while 525 voted against it.

Perkins had joined four other council members in March to grant more than $6 billion in tax breaks to Nebius, a Dutch company planning a $150 billion project. Perkins defended the decision, stating the argument for the recall had "no merit" and that a "single vote" should not outweigh years of work for his constituents. He argued the project would improve infrastructure and education while including protections against utility price spikes.

Recall organizers accused Perkins of failing to engage the public before approving the incentives. The vote occurs amid a growing national trend of backlash against data centers, driven by concerns over rising electricity costs and environmental impacts.