Mayor Lucas says election was good for Chiefs, Royals staying in Missouri
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Mayor Quinton Lucas made a stop at the Chiefs training camp Wednesday morning in St. Joseph, Mo. following Tuesday night’s primaries.
While taking in the pre-season practices, Mayor Lucas talked about the election and what it means for the future of Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums.
Jackson County Legislature aims for November Chiefs only ballot initiative
“Last night it was a good night for the State of Missouri,” Mayor Lucas said. “Relating to the sports teams, it was an exceptional night for those who are interested in making sure the Chiefs and the Royals stay right here in Kansas City, Missouri.”
He continued, “You saw, both on the Democratic and the Republican side, gubernatorial candidates who said, not only does it make sense to keep the teams here, but it’s vital, and I look forward to the teams continuing strong conversations long-term to make sure those teams are here.”
Mayor Lucas’s comments follow months of high-stakes conversations, “border-war” claims and criticisms of Jackson County’s officials who organized campaigns for a new downtown stadium.
Back in April, Jackson County voters headed to the polls to vote on a policy that would keep a preexisting 3/8-cent sales tax that had been in the county for half a century.
The vote, however, did not end in the way Jackson County lawmakers expected and resulted in a resounding “no” on the ballot.
The vote lost by 16% — approximately 21,000 votes — and would have helped the Kansas City Royals move from Kauffman Stadium to a new downtown ballpark, and would have kept the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium for at least another 25 years.
Since then, the State of Kansas has taken this opportunity to market a new stadium across the state line, specifically in Wyandotte County, with the help of STAR bonds.
August Primary Election results in Missouri, Kansas
These bonds were recently revised at a Kansas special session in June, making them even more enticing to both sports teams.
Specifically, Gov. Laura Kelly signed House Bill 2001 which allows the state to use STAR Bonds to help compel one or both of the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals to hop the state line with about 70% of the stadium project costs covered.
The law previously allowed those bonds to cover up to 50% of the cost of development projects.
Over 30 years, the bonds would be paid back from new sales taxes created in a stadium district, liquor taxes, and money generated by a sports wagering fund. Cities and counties could participate in the district, or opt out.
In the wake of all the development in Kansas, residents on the Missouri side have expressed their criticisms of Jackson County’s handling of the vote before and after it was declared. Specifically, they have questioned why the county has remained so quiet through Kansas’s pro-sports team campaign.
However, Mayor Lucas addressed these concerns directly at the training camp and confirmed that Jackson County officials are working behind the scenes to find resolutions to this current issue.
“There has never been a stop of the discussion,” Mayor Lucas said. “I think a lot of people thought the sky was falling back when the Kansas Legislature was taking steps, but here’s the reality, Missouri and the City of Kansas City have real money to put on the table. They have existing relationships, and now we have people in the right places to get things done.”
He continued, “I would expect it would be a matter of weeks, not months when you are hearing about progress in regard to both teams — both the Royals and the Chiefs.”
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At a legislative meeting back in July, Jackson County Democratic Legislator Manny Abarca sponsored two different pieces of legislation aimed keeping the Kansas City Chiefs in the county.
A 3/16 cent sales tax solely for the team was scaled back to a smaller amount — 1/8 of a cent — and legislation that would give 3/8 of a cent in sales tax money just to the Chiefs.
The 1/8 of a cent initiative is for 25 years and would give the county an opportunity to give the Royals sales tax money in a future election (this is yet to be declared). The 3/8 cent allocated for the Chiefs involves keeping the team in the county for 40 years.
The proposal, however, did not get the full approval of the county legislature. To pass, it would also require votes from the people during the General Election on Nov. 5.
Even though Abarca’s legislation failed, it proves that discussions are happening in the county and solutions are being considered.
“This isn’t new for me,” Mayor Lucas said at training camp. “The Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals will be playing in Kansas City, Missouri in the next 20 years and for generations to come, and I think last night cements it.”
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