Kansas City voters will decide five citywide ballot measures in the Aug. 4 election, including four bond proposals totaling $1.7 billion and the renewal of a sales tax that supports economic development in the city’s central core.
City officials say the measures would finance long-term infrastructure improvements, affordable housing and repairs to major public buildings. They also say most would not create new taxes or increase current tax rates.
The largest proposals would authorize KC Water to issue up to $750 million in revenue bonds for drinking water improvements and another $750 million for sewer system upgrades. Revenue bonds are repaid through water and sewer fees rather than property taxes.
City officials say the projects are already included in KC Water’s long-term plans. If voters reject the bond authority, the work would still have to be completed, but officials say the city would likely have to borrow at higher interest rates, increasing future utility costs.
Another proposal would authorize $100 million in general obligation bonds for Kansas City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. City officials say the fund addresses an estimated shortage of 64,000 affordable housing units, particularly for very low- and extremely low-income residents.
Rather than building housing itself, the trust fund helps finance affordable housing developments by providing grants and low-interest loans to qualified projects. Those public dollars are often combined with private investment, federal tax credits, bank financing and nonprofit funding to make larger developments possible. Since its creation, the fund has helped support thousands of affordable housing units across Kansas City.
A fourth measure would authorize $100 million in general obligation bonds for repairs and upgrades at Bartle Hall, Municipal Auditorium and City Hall. About $75 million would be invested in the convention complex, including major architectural repairs, replacement of aging heating and air-conditioning equipment, electrical upgrades and improved lighting. The remaining $25 million would address long-deferred maintenance at City Hall, including water piping, windows, fire alarm systems and waterproofing.
City officials say both $100 million bond proposals would replace existing debt that is being paid off, meaning they are not expected to increase property taxes.
The fifth question asks voters whether to renew the Central City Economic Development (CCED) sales tax, an existing one-eighth-cent sales tax that generates roughly $10 million a year for economic development projects in Kansas City’s central city. The tax is scheduled to expire in 2027 unless voters approve its renewal.
The CCED program has helped finance projects ranging from housing and commercial redevelopment to small-business and community investments, but it has also generated debate over how the money has been distributed and managed. The Community Voice will take a closer look at the CCED proposal, how the money has been spent and what the renewal would mean for Kansas City voters in our next issue.
