Unified Government preparing for vote on Chiefs stadium funding

Unified Government staff and commissioners are preparing for a vote on Thursday night that could determine if the residents in Kansas City, Kansas, would contribute sales and use taxes to help pay for a new Kansas City Chiefs stadium.County staff have proposed a 236-acre STAR Bond district around the stadium site between 118th Street and 126th Street and State Avenue. State leaders are pushing for a much wider swath of taxing land that could incorporate all of Kansas City, Kansas, to help pay off bonds for the stadium’s development.Thursday’s decision to hand over future sales taxes in a STAR Bond district will come after a contentious Tuesday public hearing with most citizens speaking against the Unified Government’s participation. The decision also comes just weeks after staff in the Unified Government learned about the potential to participate in stadium financing. County Administrator David Johnston told KMBC on Wednesday that staff is finalizing a financial presentation to present Thursday night to commissioners that would include the county’s best estimates on what the true cost of participation would include.“So, here we are, trying to use the data that we could find, whether it’s our own budget, stuff from departments, to see what’s the cost to our citizens?” Johnston said.Johnston acknowledged the fatigue he heard from residents on Tuesday night about taxes in Wyandotte County.“Some people are really trying hard. They’re making hard decisions to pay taxes or to do something else in their budget,” he said.As for the size of the STAR Bond district, Johnston said the Unified Government has recommended a smaller district, in line with historical STAR Bond projects. However, he acknowledged the state could draw larger boundaries after the Unified Government’s decision.People around the proposed site talked to KMBC on Wednesday about the potential of a new stadium so close to their homes or their workplaces.Ashley Bernard said she’s excited about the Chiefs near her home in the Delaware Highlands subdivision. But she did acknowledge the impact a diversion of sales taxes could include.“Because everything I mean, I’m in this area, so everything I buy is in this area,” she said. She also wondered about traffic and the impact of noise.The Delaware Highlands Assisted Living Center is also close.“Having any facilities adjacent to our community is a huge boost to quality of life,” said the center’s CEO Jeremy Whitt. Whitt said the different main events year-round that would happen at a Chiefs stadium are a positive sign for his residents.“It’s going to be a programming and most importantly, unique experiences otherwise would have gone unavailable to our residents,” he said.He also acknowledged concerns from taxpayers in Wyandotte County.“We see it as positive,” Whitt said. “But we do honor our constituency as well, understanding that there are some people that will be negatively impacted by this. That needs to be honored; it needs to be understood.”

KANSAS CITY, Kan. —

Unified Government staff and commissioners are preparing for a vote on Thursday night that could determine if the residents in Kansas City, Kansas, would contribute sales and use taxes to help pay for a new Kansas City Chiefs stadium.

County staff have proposed a 236-acre STAR Bond district around the stadium site between 118th Street and 126th Street and State Avenue. State leaders are pushing for a much wider swath of taxing land that could incorporate all of Kansas City, Kansas, to help pay off bonds for the stadium’s development.

Thursday’s decision to hand over future sales taxes in a STAR Bond district will come after a contentious Tuesday public hearing with most citizens speaking against the Unified Government’s participation.

The decision also comes just weeks after staff in the Unified Government learned about the potential to participate in stadium financing. County Administrator David Johnston told KMBC on Wednesday that staff is finalizing a financial presentation to present Thursday night to commissioners that would include the county’s best estimates on what the true cost of participation would include.

“So, here we are, trying to use the data that we could find, whether it’s our own budget, stuff from departments, to see what’s the cost to our citizens?” Johnston said.

Johnston acknowledged the fatigue he heard from residents on Tuesday night about taxes in Wyandotte County.

“Some people are really trying hard. They’re making hard decisions to pay taxes or to do something else in their budget,” he said.

As for the size of the STAR Bond district, Johnston said the Unified Government has recommended a smaller district, in line with historical STAR Bond projects. However, he acknowledged the state could draw larger boundaries after the Unified Government’s decision.

People around the proposed site talked to KMBC on Wednesday about the potential of a new stadium so close to their homes or their workplaces.

Ashley Bernard said she’s excited about the Chiefs near her home in the Delaware Highlands subdivision. But she did acknowledge the impact a diversion of sales taxes could include.

“Because everything I mean, I’m in this area, so everything I buy is in this area,” she said. She also wondered about traffic and the impact of noise.

The Delaware Highlands Assisted Living Center is also close.

“Having any facilities adjacent to our community is a huge boost to quality of life,” said the center’s CEO Jeremy Whitt. Whitt said the different main events year-round that would happen at a Chiefs stadium are a positive sign for his residents.

“It’s going to be a programming and most importantly, unique experiences otherwise would have gone unavailable to our residents,” he said.

He also acknowledged concerns from taxpayers in Wyandotte County.

“We see it as positive,” Whitt said. “But we do honor our constituency as well, understanding that there are some people that will be negatively impacted by this. That needs to be honored; it needs to be understood.”