Leaders in Wyandotte County and Olathe easily approved using sales tax revenue to contribute to the financing package to relocate the Kansas City Chiefs to Kansas, despite overwhelming opposition from citizens attending public hearings on the issue.
70% opposed the idea in Olathe moments before the City Council voted unanimously 7-0 to use 1% of the General Purpose City Sales and Use Tax, Olathe’s portion of the 0.5% Johnson County General Purpose Sales Tax, and 7% of the 9% City Transient Guest Tax, the hotel-motel tax to build a headquarters for the team and and adjoining entertainment development in an undeveloped area of College and Ridgeview. The total cost would approach $400 million.
KCK residents were even more opposed, with 90% speaking out against a domed stadium on 235 acres bordered by Parallel Parkway to the north and State Avenue to the south, and by 118th Street and 126th Street west to east. KCK Taxpayers are asked to contribute 1% of sales and use taxes not committed to other uses, more than 93% of WYCO’s 1% sales and use tax not committed to other uses, and up to 8% of its hotel-motel tax. But the Unified Government (UG) Commissioners approved the measure 7-3. Mayor Christal Watson did not vote, as mayors in KCK only vote to break a tie. Mayor Watson indicated later that she supported the measure.
Last month, the State of Kansas awarded UG $135 million to repair bridges along Central Avenue in KCK. We sought comments from the Kansas Department of Transportation and Mayor Watson on whether the timing of the award was intended to influence the sales tax vote. Neither responded.
But WYCO resident Bob Stoneking did see a connection between the infrastructure funding and the UG vote, and believes county residents, like Missourians across the border, should have had the opportunity to vote on the STAR Bond deal:
“It is interesting that the money comes at this time for the Central St. Bridge. Ever since June 24, 2024, when the Kansas Supreme Court said we had no fundamental right to vote. The right to vote (on STAR Bonds issues) needs to be corrected in Kansas, especially Wyandotte County. They have left a lot out about the new stadium. Who’s gonna pay for all the infrastructure? Extra police, the extra firemen and women?
“I have lived in Bonner Springs, all my life except for two years. I bought a house here 42 years ago, and everybody said it would be a good investment. With the high property taxes and being a senior citizen, and Kansas not helping the middle class or senior citizens with property tax and school tax increases like other states, it was not a good investment. Me and my wife have started looking for a home in other states. Like my house, like my neighbor’s property taxes are out of control. I did not make the meeting the other night, but I understood a lot of people did. I’ve been to these meetings and it seems that most of the politicians are blind to the taxpayers.”
Some excerpted comments from each city’s public hearing:
Olathe comments begin here at the 18:54 mark:
“This current process does not match Olathe’s past profile, full of civic engagement. This process requires time, transparency, and community feedback. All have been lacking to this point. Tonight’s meeting, I don’t feel fulfills the full civic engagement. This is a 30-year commitment. that includes billions of tax dollars, that you have decided to commit without full, true input from your citizens. I feel this is not a public hearing. This is a presentation of what’s already been decided.”
“Olathe citizens will have had zero time to evaluate the items presented tonight, zero time to ask questions, zero time to offer feedback, or suggestions before this council votes tonight…..”
“After watching and reading all the propaganda from our officials, I left with one stark observation. Our elected officials seem to be working harder at representing the Chiefs than their own residents, the taxpayers.”
“I am strongly opposed to this ordinance in using taxpayer funds for this development. No matter where you stand on the political aisle, the idea of sales tax going to pay for this project should bore you. If you’re progressive, you gotta ask yourself, why is the middle-class taxpayer funding a stadium and a practice field for an NFL owner worth $24 billion?
“If you’re conservative, you have to ask yourself why are government handouts going to a successful business? Anyone that truly wants to put money towards paying for the stadium or playing field, feel free to start a GoFundMe for Mr. Hunt.”
A supporter offered:
“I believe that oftentimes, we only hear the voice of people who regularly stand up against development and growth. I’d like to share a few ideas and ask you to consider these points. Opportunity for economic growth events, like the Chiefs relocating to Olathe only happen rarely.
“Businesses need to have incentive tools to make them a reality. Take, for example, a Target or a Costco. If we don’t give them incentives to build the buildings, the rents that they would have would be so high that the price of the goods they have to sell would be affecting our daily purchases as regular citizens. Yes, we are helping billionaires, but these are the type of events that provide opportunities for the rest of us.
“You say how? Local businesses will have more opportunity for growth. Jobs will be created. ?Businesses will be started. Tourism will come to Olathe. Retail shopping dollars will stay in Olathe, all while benefiting the area financially for decades to come. ?And, yes, your home values may keep going up in value. It is the fuel for the American dream, a chance for regular people to get ahead. That’s what makes America such a special place. ?And that’s exactly what will happen if the Chiefs relocate to Olathe. This is a great opportunity, economically for all of us. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
“If Olathe sales taxes are used to help pay off STAR Bonds, that will rob our police, libraries, and other infrastructure of the necessary funds to continue operating. I believe this will cause Olathe to increase sales taxes to cover this type of operating expense.
“Every time we buy something, we pay sales tax to the state, Johnson County, Olathe, and if we happen to buy something in a shopping center that is in a TIF(Tax Increment Financing) or CID
(Community Improvement District), we pay an additional sales tax that is basically straight up corporate welfare for real estate developers who cut sweetheart deals with the cities. Right now, our sales taxes can account for up to 10% of the cost of what we buy. And this Chiefs STAR Bond district, the largest ever in the state, 290 square miles, will probably increase our sales taxes to over 10%.
“That’s unsustainable for seniors who are on a fixed income, who face being taxed out of our homes due to escalating property taxes, and now, with the added insult of high sales taxes, all of this to give a tax break to the Hunt Family worth $23 billion. This entire Chiefs coming-to-Kansas deal was enacted without transparency, was not brought before the voters, and the legislative committee signed NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements). And that’s just the tip of the iceberg about what’s wrong with this whole deal. We the people who are already paying exorbitant taxes have been stabbed in the back by our state legislators, and now it’s getting ready to happen at the city level. To me, this looks like government of the rich, by the rich, and for the rich. And there’s another word for that. It’s called taxation without representation.”
Mayor John Bacon commented to The Sentinel prior to the Olathe hearing:
“It is very much our intention for the Chiefs training facility to make Olathe more prosperous, not less. I fully believe the facility plus the surrounding development will not only cover the cost of the project, but also increase our tax revenue.
“I believe the Chiefs development provides a lot of potential benefits for our city, in the immediate area of where it’s being developed and beyond. I’m excited about the possibilities it brings to Olathe.”
Other comments from KCK residents opposing the Chiefs subsidy begin here at the 9:30 mark:
First, a supporter of the subsidy for the Chiefs:
“The Chiefs project is a long-term career, not short-term construction. This is a lifetime opportunity to keep the Chiefs and thousands of family-supporting union careers right here in Kansas instead of losing them to somewhere else. The project creates 22,000 career opportunities. Several of them will be Wyandotte County workers. and establishes 4,000 permanent ongoing careers that would not exist without this investment.
“These are real union careers with strong wages, benefits, training, and advancement, and not just temporary, low-grade jobs. The total economic development is $3 billion, with over $500 million every year flowing through Wyandotte County, supporting local contractors, small businesses, and strengthening their base, the tax base. A strong base means more long-term funding for schools, infrastructure, and public services without putting the burden on local working families. Wyandotte County has worked hard to attract this major investment and now is the moment to take the opportunity to keep them at home.”
And, Chiefs opponents…
“We have a much bigger problem than the Chiefs and taxes. Corruption is rampant in our community. Too much money is leaving.
“When this deal came up, I thought, ‘What an insult.’ You want us to own the house? And you want all the benefits of the landlord? You want us to pay the taxes and the upkeep, but you want to take the rent money? You want to sell in your stadium and not pay any taxes, but you’re going to charge taxes; it’ll probably go in your pocket. You wanna own our land to park on and make millions while we get nothing out of it. What are we… ?”
Finally, an opponent recounting recent history in the county with development projects funded by taxpayers:
“This county has gone for project, after project, after project. Schlitterbahn. Anybody going to Schlitterbahn these days?
“The American Royal. Where is it? We just funded it some more money. It’s a disaster.
“The dog race track. Anybody been there recently?
“Cerner was going to be the big savior of our county. We built some big, big buildings out there around the Legends. Anybody been out to Cerner lately?
“How about Indian Springs? How about that shopping center, folks?
“The race track (Kansas Speedway) It’s one to two years from being destroyed.
The opponent concluded:
“What a marvelous set of conditions we have made for this county!”
