Kansas committees meet over STAR bonds bill to lure Chiefs, Royals
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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — For the first time, Kansas lawmakers heard a bill to lure the Kansas City Royals or Chiefs across the state line.
Lawmakers discussed the 40-page bill to lure the Chiefs or the Royals to Kansas during a committee informational meeting Monday afternoon.
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This is ahead of the special legislative session called by Governor Laura Kelly, which formally opens Tuesday. During that special session, Kansas lawmakers will be focused on tax cuts, but they’re also expected to consider the stadium STAR bond bill.
The legislation would allow STAR bonds to cover 70% of stadium projects.
The current STAR bond law in the Sunflower state covers only 50% of the cost of development projects.
“The bondholders themselves are the ones that are liable for the STAR bonds. The taxpayer is not liable for the STAR bonds,” Ron Ryckman with Scoop and Score said.
Sales tax revenue from businesses in the proposed sports stadium development districts would be set aside to cover the bond debt.
The proposed legislation would also allow up to 100% of liquor sales tax revenue inside the stadium entertainment district to be used to pay off these bonds.
Groups for and against the stadium bill were at the capitol Monday to testify during the committee meeting.
“We’re talking about a very exciting opportunity, probably the largest economic development deal to come to Kansas, and we’re talking about STAR bonds and what they are,” Ryckman said.
“Educate folks on how they work. Talk about who’s ultimately responsible for the payment, the bonds, and who’s liable. Talk about some of the excitement, the economic excitement that happens when you bring in the Chiefs or the Royals, and you talk about the Super Bowl. Think about having a domed stadium, the extra concerts, and other things that could come to the overall region.”
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Deputy State Director For Americans for Prosperity, Jon Leuth, says they’d like to see the special session stay focused on tax cuts for Kansans.
“Our biggest focus for a special session is that it was called for tax relief for Kansans, and that’s where the focus should be,” Leuth explained. “Not on getting distracted with a number of other issues. This is not the time or place for STAR bonds in and of itself, we’ve never been a big fan of.”
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