Calling it an “evolving project,” The City of Prairie Village claims it doesn’t have more than a general breakdown of costs for the $30 million “municipal complex project,” but Democrat U.S. Rep Sharice Davids, whose district includes Prairie Village, has requested millions in federal funds for the project.
Davids asked Congress for a $3.9 million appropriation “to upgrade driveways, sidewalks and curbs, underground retention, drainage pipes, fencing, pavement markings, landscaping, retaining walls, covered carports, and utilities,” a detailed breakdown that the city claims it doesn’t have — and which Davids won’t say how she obtained.
In response to a query asking how the $3.9 million figure was determined, Davids’ Communications Director Zac Donnely said that he was unable “to pull things together in time with the press of budget debates in the House.”
But, Donnely said, the request was “vetted.”
“As always, each of Rep. Davids’ project requests were submitted in tandem with local officials, underwent a strict vetting process for high return on investment, and selected for their potential to improve health and safety in the community and bring economic opportunity to the Third District,” Donnely said.
This is in contradiction to Prairie Village City Clerk Adam Geffert’s response to a Sentinel request under the Kansas Open Records Act for a detailed breakdown of the construction budget.
Geffert sent a June 16, 2025, “Municipal Complex Project Update,” which has a general breakdown of each phase of the project, but no details to speak of.
“Unfortunately, as this is an evolving project, there is not any additional detail that can be provided at this time,” Geffert said via email. “At its July 7 meeting, the council will discuss whether additional LEED certification components should be added, which could affect the total cost. As the project continues, more detailed costs will be determined.”
It is therefore unclear how Davids could perform a “strict vetting” of the project.
Interestingly, Davids’ former District Director Danielle Robinson is married to Prairie Village City Councilman and Johnson County Democratic Party Executive Director Cole Robinson.
The city has apparently been planning the new municipal complex for several years now, and claims on its website that there would likely be no tax increase to residents, as much of the cost was already baked into city budgets. However, as The Sentinel previously reported, the city refuses to back up that assertion.
Does (or should) Prairie Village city hall project qualify for federal funding?
Rep. Davids says in her request that “the project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is consistent with purposes authorized in 42 U.S.C. 5305(a)(2),” which specifies “the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, or installation (including design features and improvements with respect to such construction, reconstruction, or installation that promote energy efficiency) of public works, facilities (except for buildings for the general conduct of government), and site or other improvements.” (emphasis added)
However, 42 U.S.C. 5302(a)(21) says, “The term “buildings for the general conduct of government” means city halls, county administrative buildings, State capitol or office buildings, or other facilities in which the legislative or general administrative affairs of the government are conducted. (emphasis added)
The House Committee on Appropriations will have to determine whether the Prairie Village city hall project is eligible for federal funding, but whether taxpayers in say, Oklahoma City, should have to pay part of the cost for a new city hall in Prairie Village is another matter.
Dave Trabert, CEO of The Sentinel’s parent company, Kansas Policy Institute, says federal funding should not be used for local projects of this nature.
“The federal government is running a massive deficit, and requests for non-essential projects of this nature add to the national debt. The House Appropriations Committee should ask Rep. Davids and everyone else asking for federal support to state on the record if they believe their requests warrant U.S. taxpayers taking on more debt.”
Prairie Village City Council has refused to allow a vote on the project, and a resident has sued
A lawsuit by a Prairie Village resident contends the charter ordinance the city is using to authorize $30 million in bonds is illegal.
As the Sentinel previously reported, the city is using a charter ordinance passed in 2016 to finance a roughly $3 million streetlight project to prevent citizens from voting on the project, despite a recent poll finding that residents overwhelmingly want the opportunity to vote.
Prairie Village resident Marc Vianello is suing over the chance.
“Mr. Vianello, like the vast majority of Prairie Village taxpayers, wants the City to follow the law and hold an election before issuing $30 million in general obligation bond debt that will cost the taxpayers for the next 30 years for this City Council’s pet project,” said Attorney Fritz Edmunds, who represents Vianello. “We are merely seeking to enforce the Kansas statute requiring a public vote on general obligation bond issuance in excess of $100,000 in a given year. The City Council is trying to bypass state law through a charter ordinance issued in 2016 for a street lights project. We believe that’s illegal.”
