|
Kansas might use STAR bonds to lure Chiefs and Royals. Here’s how they worked on other projectsby Blaise Mesa, Beacon: Kansas Takeaways
Kansas could finance up to 70% of a Chiefs or Royals stadium under a new proposal to lure professional sports teams to the state. Kansas lawmakers have returned to Topeka for a special tax-cutting session and are expected to vote on a STAR bond proposal to finance a new stadium. STAR bonds, or sales tax and revenue bonds, pay for tourist attractions and then use the sales taxes collected at those attractions to pay off the construction debt. For stadiums, that means sales taxes on food, tickets or merchandise in that area are used to pay off the bulk of the debt instead of taxpayer dollars in the state general fund. That also means that sales tax dollars that might have otherwise paid for public services — including entertainment spending that shifts from an existing business to whatever a STAR bond financed — go to the project that’s financed with state help. Cities can opt out of offering their sales tax under the proposed bill. A Chiefs or Royals relocation from Missouri is marketed as a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Stilwell Republican, said the new stadiums and surrounding entertainment districts would pay for themselves. “(Kansans are) not going to pay a dime unless they visit the district,” Tarwater said. But Kansas has a mixed record on STAR bond projects, and the state has never used them to subsidize an NFL or MLB team before. How often does Kansas fail to pay off STAR bonds?A 2021 audit of the state’s STAR bond system found that some projects may need over 100 years to pay off their debt. But the Kansas Department of Commerce said almost 80% of STAR bonds projects are expected to pay off early — often in a few decades. The audit and a 2019 Kansas CIty Star article paint a bleak picture of STAR bonds, though, saying they are risky and used too often. The Prairiefire development in Overland Park — which has a museum, restaurants and shopping — defaulted on its bond just months ago. Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka closed down and is up for auction. The Schlitterbahn Water Park never recovered from the death of a then-legislator’s son on a waterslide and is another closed-down STAR bond project. “When everybody is talking about pie-in-the-sky dreams and all the different possibilities, you have to have an economist say, ‘Here’s what actually happens. Here are the facts.’ ... STAR bonds … simply do not work,” economist Michael Austin told lawmakers. The Kansas Speedway, opened in 2001, was the state’s first STAR bonds project. The original bond was for $24.3 million and has $10.6 million in outstanding debt, a 2023 report from the Department of Commerce said. Kansas has successfully funded some stadium projects through STAR bonds. Children’s Mercy Park, opened in 2011 and home of Sporting KC, was originally issued $150 million in bonds and paid off its debt early. Do any current STAR bonds projects compare to a Chiefs or Royals stadium district?In 2023, the Royals sold 1.3 million tickets and the Chiefs sold another 638,000. The Royals were a last-place team that year and poor play scared off some fans. The team sold 2.7 million regular-season tickets during its 2015 World Series run. A STAR bond district bringing in 2.7 million visitors is comparable to the Wichita River District, which had around 3 million visitors in 2018 and 2019. The river district is paying back a $55.3 million bond, while a Chiefs or Royals district could cost substantially more. The cost of any stadium is purely speculative, but the new Las Vegas Raiders stadium cost $1.9 billion when it opened in 2020. The new Texas Rangers stadium was $1.2 billion when it opened in 2020. That could mean around $1 billion or more for just a new Chiefs or Royals stadium. When the Royals asked Jackson County, Missouri, taxpayers to extend a sales tax to pay for a new downtown stadium earlier this year, that would have eaten up about $2 billion over 40 years to pay the principal and interest on construction costs. Half of that sales tax money would have gone to the Chiefs. Tarwater, the Stilwell Republican, said he expects the stadium districts to draw far more than the river district. For starters, the stadiums could host concerts, college football playoff games or even March Madness Final Four visits. Tarwater said the Arizona Diamondbacks draw millions more people who aren’t at the game because of a district around the stadium. “You’re talking 70-80,000 people coming to a region several times a year,” he said. “That generates a lot of commerce.” Some STAR bonds districts also went under because the attraction closed. It’s been decades since a major American sports team went out of business. How much power does the secretary of commerce have on these projects?The Legislature is expected to vote on a STAR bonds proposal on Tuesday. But the Legislature doesn’t have the final say on how much is spent. That falls to the secretary for the Department of Commerce. Bob North, chief counsel for the Department of Commerce, said STAR bonds usually only fund 30% of the proposed projects. The department could authorize financing for 50% of the bonds, but it determines how much bond funding to use by looking at expected revenue. Kansas is one of few states using STAR bonds to fund projects. North said that gives the state an edge in economic development. Not only does it create new tourist attractions, he said, but it improves the economic well-being of the state. “We believe STAR bonds work,” he said. “Over time, that’s going to continue to be proven to be true.” This article first appeared on Beacon: Kansas and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. Lawmakers clarify some confusion to let more counties freeze property taxes for seniorsby Meg Cunningham, Beacon: Missouri Takeaways
Missouri lawmakers gave counties a dose of much-needed clarity in May when they passed a bill aimed at clarifying a 2023 law that lets counties pass a senior property tax freeze, aimed at those 62 and older. The law passed last year gave counties the power to freeze property tax rates for Missourians who were eligible for Social Security. But the law left room for interpretation — and confusion. For instance, it didn’t include an outline for how counties should go about the freeze or who would qualify. Counties weren’t sure how to interpret “eligible for Social Security.” Did that mean 62 and older? What about people on pensions, like retired teachers or railroad workers? Were they out of luck? Some counties thought an annual application would be required, and others wanted to put a cap on home values eligible for the tax break. As a result, only the state’s larger counties have been bold enough to pass the freeze. Jackson, Platte and Clay counties passed the freeze in the Kansas City area, while St. Louis, St. Charles and Greene counties have passed the freeze in other parts of the state. In the meantime, smaller counties took a wait-and-see approach — seeing what the General Assembly might yet do and measuring the potential impact on what a freeze would mean for libraries and school and fire districts. Lawmakers answered some of those questions this year with a bill sponsored by Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, a Platte County Republican who backed the original bill giving counties the power to freeze rates for seniors. They also conceded that the freeze law would likely need future updates. But Luetkemeyer, pointing to legislative gridlock, suggested that lawmakers delay making more changes to the bill because it was already so far along in the process. The clarification bill has yet to be signed by Gov. Mike Parson. What answers does the bill provide for Missouri’s senior tax freeze?Counties were largely unsure which property owners could qualify for the freeze. Initially, the bill said that Missourians eligible for Social Security would be able to receive the freeze. But counties were afraid to open themselves up to lawsuits depending on how they interpreted that language. So lawmakers clarified that part of the bill by changing the language to Missourians 62 and older. The senior property tax freeze came amid property tax assessments that shocked many Missourians. The 2024 bill also clarified that the freeze wouldn’t work in reverse. If the assessed value of property dropped, so would the tax bill even if the owner had benefited from the freeze. The bill also makes clear homeowners who are behind on their property taxes won’t be eligible for the freeze until they catch up payments. It also clarifies that if homeowners make improvements that raise the assessed value of their home, their rate will be increased to reflect those improvements. Previous language also allowed for county residents to petition to pass the freeze if local officials don’t enact it. The new bill would let counties go back and tweak their programs without voter approval. It also gives counties full control over how to tailor their property tax freezes. This article first appeared on Beacon: Missouri and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. Jackson County Parks + Rec’s Sand Cinema will present Barbie on the giant inflatable movie screen at Longview Lake Beach on Friday, June 7. Gates will open at 7:30pm. Admission is $10 per car.
Complimentary photos with Barbie, courtesy of This Princess Life, will be available before the movie gets underway around 9:00 p.m. or dark. Families are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs for seating. No swimming or outside food, drinks, or pets are allowed. Concessions are available for guests to enjoy. Barbie is the first of three beachfront family features this summer. The Sand Cinema schedule for summer 2024 at Longview Lake Beach is as follows, weather permitting:
Longview Lake Beach is located at 11101 Raytown Road, just two miles south of I-470. For more information and to stay up to date on upcoming events, visit www.makeyourdayhere.com/events. Jackson County Public Works Environmental Health Division inspects all restaurants, grocery stores, schools, mobile food and temporary food establishments in the City of Grain Valley. The following violations were reported in the last 7 days:
Culver's of Grain Valley 1180 S Buckner Tarsney Road Observed employee drink stored on prep area without a straw. Corrected on site. Interior of the microwave had an accumulation of food residue. Corrected on site. Jackson County Parks + Rec invites the community to enjoy a day of outdoor entertainment for the entire family at its Sheep Shindig event on Saturday, May 4th from 9:00am - 4:00pm.
Families will enjoy time-honored games and crafts typical of the mid-1800s and watch as Missouri Town's flock of sheep receive their spring haircuts. Missouri Town interpreters will demonstrate the wool-making process from sheep shearing to carding and beyond. Admission is $8/adults, $4 for seniors and children ages 5-13. Children 4 and under are free. Missouri Town Living History Museum is located at 8010 East Park Road, Lee's Summit, MO 64064. Jackson County officials today report significant progress in the ongoing efforts to recover from a criminal ransomware attack. Cybersecurity experts are methodically rebuilding network systems to ensure a smooth restoration process that avoids setbacks and safeguards critical data. The recovery process has been meticulously planned to prioritize the restoration of essential services.
As part of this effort, the County is tentatively preparing for a soft launch of the reopening of the Assessment, Collection and Recorder of Deeds offices to the public, scheduled for Tuesday, April 16. This phased approach marks a significant step toward resuming normal operations while minimizing disruptions during the transition to full restoration. "We are committed to ensuring a smooth and secure recovery process for our community," said Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. "The soft launch of key offices is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our cybersecurity team who have been working around the clock to address the challenges posed by this criminal cyberattack. We appreciate the patience and understanding of our residents as we work diligently to restore normal operations." While the soft launch signifies a positive step forward, officials acknowledge that there is still work to be done. In the coming days, more details will be announced on the process for residents to receive assistance effectively and quickly during this transitional period. The safety and security of residents' data remain the County’s top priority and every effort is being made to ensure a smooth and secure restoration process. Residents are encouraged to stay updated on further announcements regarding the recovery and re-opening process via the news media, county’s website and social media channels. Jackson County has decided to close its Assessment, Collection and Recorder of Deeds offices for the remainder of this week due to a ransomware attack. The county, in conjunction with federal law enforcement authorities and contracted cybersecurity specialists, continues its investigation into the origin of a ransomware attack that disrupted multiple county services early Tuesday morning.
According to a release from the County, measures are actively in place to prevent further compromise to the county’s network, as the incident response team implements a thorough yet cautious approach to restoring systems to full operational capacity within a secure environment. “There is an urgent need to reinstate the county's core functions to minimize inconvenience for residents,” said Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. "We are actively exploring every avenue to ensure our residents are not negatively impacted by the closures.” Jackson County stated the impact does not include taxpayers’ personal and sensitive financial information. Such data is hosted completely outside of the county’s network and is securely managed and stored by our trusted partner, PayIt. In a release, the County stated that due to the sensitivity of this security breach, the County's capacity to disclose information is limited. However, updates will be provided as they become available and deemed appropriate. Jackson County will host a Career Fair on Saturday, March 23rd from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
at the Jackson County Parks Ranger Recreation Building, 3310 Rennau Drive, Lee’s Summit, MO 64064. The Jackson County Career Fair will feature a range of roles across various departments, including public safety, administration, park operations and courts. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with county government representatives about career paths available within the public sector. The list of open positions, which include full time, part time, and seasonal opportunities, can be found at www.jacksongov.org/jobs. A public hearing regarding the proposed developments in the Crossroads area, including the proposed relocation of the Kansas City Royals ballpark, will be held Monday, March 11th at the Jackson County Courthouse in downtown Kansas City. The session will serve as a forum for residents, property owners, business owners and all interested parties to voice their concerns, insights and thoughts regarding the proposal for a new Jackson County sales tax to fund a new downtown stadium.
What: Public Hearing on Proposed Crossroads Developments Date: Monday, March 11, 2024 Time: 3:00 p.m. Location: Jackson County Courthouse, 415 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106 Legislative Assembly Area, 2nd Floor The Royals’ announcement of their intention to construct a new stadium complex, complete with team offices, a hotel, residential units and entertainment venues, alongside infrastructure improvements, has ignited a mix of excitement and concern among community members. The potential displacement of businesses and residents in the Crossroads Arts District has prompted calls for careful consideration and open discussion of the project's implications. “As Chairperson, I am honored to facilitate this important public hearing, ensuring that every voice is heard regarding the proposed developments in the Crossroads area,” 5th District Legislator Jeanie Lauer said. “It's imperative that we engage in open dialogue and considerate decision-making to address the concerns and aspirations of our community." "As Vice Chair, I am committed to fostering a transparent and inclusive discussion during the upcoming public hearing,” 3rd District At-Large Legislator Megan Marshall said. “Our community's input is invaluable as we navigate the complexities of the proposed developments in the Crossroads area. Together, we can shape a future that reflects the needs and values of Jackson County." Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr., expressed his appreciation for the leadership of Chairperson Lauer and Vice Chair Marshall, stating, "Their dedication to fostering an open dialogue on this matter is commendable. I only wish that we had been made aware sooner of the Royals' plans, which involve displacing people and businesses from the Crossroads. It's crucial that we take these concerns into account as we move forward." The public hearing will offer a platform for transparent discussion, enabling the community to share their views, seek clarifications and understand more fully the proposed developments and their impacts. The input gathered during this meeting will be instrumental in guiding the County's actions concerning the stadium project and the associated sales tax proposal. In-person absentee voting and absentee requests for the April 2, 2024 municipal election began February 20th. All voters can vote in person at the Jackson County Election Board at 110 N Liberty, Independence, MO, stating a reason. Two weeks preceding the election a reason is not required to vote in-person absentee.
Reasons you can vote absentee:
For more information on absentee voting, visit Absentee Voting | Jackson County Missouri Election Board (jcebmo.org) Sample ballot for April 2nd municipal election: 04.02.24-Sample-Ballot.pdf (jcebmo.org) |
Categories
All
Archives
July 2024
|
Grain Valley NewsGrain Valley News is a free community news source published weekly online. |
Contact Us |