Jackson County officials want voters to approve a 3/8 cent sales tax to pay for a $575 million dollar renovation project to spruce up the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals stadiums on the April 4th Ballot. Kansas City legislators also want voters to impose a “compensating usage fee” on large purchases made by Jackson County shoppers outside the state (including Kansas) to help pay for a $200 million rolling roof that would go over the two stadiums at the Truman Sports Complex . If the renovations and roof both pass and are implemented, the National Football League says it would win Kansas City a Super Bowl bid in the next decade.
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With a February 28th deadline to put both items on the ballot in April, the Chiefs and Royals have yet to sign their new 25-year leases leaving Kansas Citians wondering what is to happen next. Team owners want to include development opportunities on their leases and are still debating how to share construction control with public officials, both of which are slowing the ballot process. The Chiefs organization said they would add $1 to their tickets for proposed renovations and maintenance while the Royals said they would not charge any extra fees, which could halt the project and stop it from being put on the ballot altogether. Furthermore, if the leases remain unsigned by the Tuesday deadline, legislators will be forced to leave both issues off the ballot.What's all the Fuss About?
Jackson County voters have had a love-hate relationship with the "proposed" ballot for decades. Usually offering up big promises with voters responding with a definite "yes" at the polls, big ballot questions usually end up passing and never coming through.Most can't forget all the hype associated with 2005's "Question One" which, if passed, promised a $500 million dollar state-of-the art Sprint center that was to house NHL hockey and NBA basketball organizations. Jackson County responded with an eager "yes!" to the sales tax hike--and a mere month later, Kansas City responded with a smaller stadium proposal and no hope of any professional sports team.
With a failing Kansas City public school district and some of the worst roads in the country, it leaves many residents wondering if this money could be put to better use. But most importantly, if passed, will the city come through???
