Kansas City Seeks Input on Central City Tax Plan
Residents can now influence how the 1/8-cent sales tax funds housing and development projects through 2032.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Economic Indicators
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The Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City has launched a public survey to gather input for its 2027-2032 strategic plan regarding the local Central City Economic Development sales tax program. This feedback period allows residents to influence how the 1/8-cent tax revenue is allocated to address district development gaps.
Why it matters
The survey helps set priorities for future funding, ensuring the tax revenue effectively addresses neighborhood financing gaps that the conventional market currently misses. This initiative follows the August 2026 voter approval to extend the 1/8-cent tax for an additional decade.
Since 2017, the program has approved over $97 million for 68 projects, generating more than $1 billion in total development activity. The city recently approved another $8 million to support 10 new projects, including 210 housing units, within the Central City District.
The players
Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City
An organization tasked with managing local economic development initiatives and the deployment of tax-funded investments.
The details
The Central City Economic Development sales tax functions as a critical gap-financing tool, helping to draw in private, philanthropic, and federal capital for projects the market otherwise cannot support. By collecting public input through the survey, officials aim to refine the deployment of this revenue for the 2027-2032 period. The program currently targets a district spanning from Ninth Street to Gregory Boulevard and Indiana Avenue to The Paseo, focusing on housing, repairs, and commercial development.
Timeline
The Central City Economic Development sales tax program was first approved in 2017.
Voters extended the tax for 10 years in August 2026.
The survey for the new strategic plan launched on October 29, 2026.
The public survey period closes on December 18, 2026.
The upcoming strategic plan will guide investments from 2027 through 2032.
Money Landscape
This development marks the next phase of the Central City Economic Development sales tax program following its voter-approved extension in August 2026. The planning process positions the city to continue leveraging small-scale tax increments to stimulate larger regional capital investment.
Residents in the district spanning Ninth Street to Gregory Boulevard and Indiana Avenue to The Paseo can influence the direction of future neighborhood investments by completing the survey. Participation in this process allows citizens to voice local priorities for housing and commercial development projects.
The takeaway
The strategic plan will prioritize how the 1/8-cent tax revenue is deployed to support local housing and commercial restoration efforts. Kansas City residents interested in the future of these neighborhood investments should submit their input through the city survey by December 18.
Further reading
For more on the latest trends in the region, visit Kansas City Economic Indicators.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KCUR 89.3 - NPR in Kansas City. Local news, entertainment and podcasts..
Live Poll
Should residents have more direct influence over how local economic development tax dollars are spent?
