Discussions of new sales tax proposal for Chiefs stadium delayed by Jackson County legislators

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Days after Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed new legislation aimed at luring the Chiefs and Royals to Kansas, Jackson County legislators are responding with new sales tax proposals.

One Jackson County legislator is trying to get two proposals sent to committee: one of them a 1/8-cent sales tax for 25 years, the other a 3/8 cent sales tax for 40 years

The 1/8-cent sales tax was passed to the committee last week, legislator Manny Abarca said, while the 3/8-cent sales tax for 40 years has been delayed.

“The total will be all to the Chiefs at this point,” Abarca said on Monday. “But again, there’s opportunity for the one-eighth. We can bring a one-eighth for the Royals as well and marry them together. That’s actually less than the three-eighths we pay now, and so there are more options to be discussed. But we need to start those discussions.”

Abarca, who was hoping to move forward on the 3/8-cent sales tax, was met with crickets when he brought it up during a meeting on Monday.

READ MORE: Legality of Abarca’s new stadium sales tax bills called into question

“I keep getting told that it’s next week, it’s next week, it’s next week. That in itself is somewhat of an impediment because if I don’t have the legislation,” he said. “I can’t modify it.”

Abarca said he’s disappointed with the lack of urgency from the County after STAR bonds were approved by Kansas lawmakers just last week to lure the teams.

“I think there’s questions to ask vice president Marshall, why we’re holding this up and what’s the plan,” he stated.

He said at this point all he can do is introduce it, and it’s going to take five or six of the legislators to get something done.

ALSO READ: Frank White discourages bidding war between Missouri, Kansas to attract Chiefs and Royals

“Hopefully next week we’re going to have some robust discussion and some dialogue.”

KCTV5 asked other legislators why they decided to put the topic on hold, but they declined to meet with us.

Despite the pushback, Abarca said the Chiefs have asked to see the language and is hopeful that Missouri can get something done to win the Chiefs over.

“This is opening up conversations, the line of communication that weren’t there before, and so I think there is interest,” said Abarca, “it’s not hard to turn down 3/8th-cent total sales tax which would be around 2-3 billion dollars for 40 years.”

ALSO READ: Detailing the process that could bring the Chiefs or Royals across the state line

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