Latest news with #sales tax
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Jackson County Executive Frank White pitches Gov. Kehoe adjusted approach to sales tax extension
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. wrote a letter to Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe last week, proposing that the county renew its 3/8-cent sales tax. The sales tax was originally approved by voters in 2006 to fund improvements to Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums. If renewed, the sales tax would focus on the following three priorities: Modernizing and improving Arrowhead Stadium Restoring and upgrading public safety infrastructure Investing in public health Kansas City man arrested, charged after high-speed boat chase at Lake of the Ozarks 'With the passage of Senate Bill 3, Missouri now has a powerful tool to play a significant role in attracting and retaining professional sports teams—most notably the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals,' White wrote in the letter. Not only would the sales tax go toward modernizing and improving Arrowhead Stadium, White said it would also help the county invest in public health, as well as restore and upgrade the county's public safety infrastructure. Funds from the sales tax would also go toward modernizing the county's juvenile detention facility, according to White. 'The impact of these improvements will be felt well beyond county lines,' White wrote. In the letter, White also addressed the controversy surrounding the Royals' potential relocation: 'I also want to be clear about the Royals: I fully support keeping them in Jackson County. Since the April 2024 vote, the City of Kansas City has taken the lead on identifying a new site and working with the team, and I've respected their desire to do so. At the same time, I've made it clear to the Royals that Jackson County is ready to support the city's efforts and is willing to step back in should the team present a proposal for us to consider or express interest in reengaging. To date, the Royals have not done so.' Kauffman Stadium, which currently benefits from the 3/8-cent sales tax, would not be included as a beneficiary of the renewed sales tax, according to White's letter. White released the following statement Monday afternoon: 'First, it's important to remember that these teams are for-profit, multi-billion dollar businesses. They're always going to look for the best deal for themselves and I can't blame them for that. But my job isn't to work for the teams; my job is to get the best deal for the people of Jackson County. 'Out of respect for the City of Kansas City's publicly stated desire to take the lead in conversations with the Royals, much of our engagement has focused on the Chiefs. At the same time, we remain open to discussions with all parties to ensure Jackson County's interests are fully represented. 'Last and most importantly, Jackson County taxpayers have long carried the overwhelming share of public funding for these teams, historically providing more than 90% of the investment, which currently amounts to over $50 million every year. As we look ahead, our priority is to ensure any new agreement is fair, transparent and reflects the significant commitment our residents continue to make.' The Jackson County executive said he believes this proposal could generate between $500 million and $700 million. He said it offers a clear path to retain the Chiefs, protect taxpayers and deliver long-term public benefit. White also proposed that the sales tax be presented to voters as one ballot question instead of three. He said this would clarify that the renewed tax may be used for more than one related purpose. White also asked the governor to confirm with the director of the Department of Economic Development and the commissioner of the Office of Administration that the sales tax meets the requirements stipulated in Senate Bill 3. The 3/8-cent sales tax is currently set to expire in 2031, which is when the Chiefs' and Royals' leases end. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Frank White prepared to back Chiefs stadium tax — but under these conditions
Frank White sent Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe a letter signaling his preparedness to support a sales tax earmarked for a renovated Arrowhead Stadium. But it comes with significant caveats. White, the Jackson County executive, wrote to Kehoe last week that he would back a 3/8th-cent sales tax extension in the county — but with only one-third of it reserved for an Arrowhead Stadium makeover. In a letter obtained by The Star through an open records request, White lays out a plan to reserve one-third of the tax to upgrade the downtown Jackson County courthouse and the juvenile rehabilitation facility; one-third for capital improvements at University Health, county-owned hospitals in Kansas City; and one-third for upgrades and maintenance for Arrowhead stadium. 'This approach represents exactly the kind of balanced, responsible investment the moment calls for,' White wrote in the letter. A Kehoe spokesperson did not indicate whether the Republican governor supported White's plan in an email to The Star, but she emphasized that local support was necessary for the teams. 'Governor Kehoe appreciates the willingness of Jackson County Executive Frank White to explore options for local investment to keep the Chiefs and Royals in Missouri,' said spokesperson Gabby Picard, who also pointed to issues with Jackson County tax assessments, adding Kehoe 'also believes Jackson County residents deserve certainty for fair and reasonable property tax assessments, which is a critical piece to any Jackson County solution.' The Chiefs declined comment on the letter. But a three-way split is likely a non-starter in any negotiations with the Chiefs, who possess something today they didn't two years ago when their talks with White commenced: Options. The Chiefs are not only pursuing a renovated stadium at the Truman Sports Complex, but they continue to explore the possibility of building a new stadium across the state line. Both Missouri and Kansas have passed competing stadium-incentives packages, and the Chiefs recently successfully persuaded Kansas to extend the deadline for its funding package. The Missouri bill passed last month not only encourages but requires a local source of funding — which is the significance of the letter. While it's long been known the stadium tax measures White does not support, his writing to Kehoe offers the first behind-the-curtain peek of the brand of ballot measure he would promote. 'Governor, I'm aware that some have tried to suggest that I'm opposed to any level of public funding for these teams. That's just not true,' White wrote. 'What I am opposed to is continuing the status quo for another generation.' White's office confirmed the letter but declined further comment. White is facing a recall election, possibly as soon as next month. The Royals are not a party to his proposal to Kehoe. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and his office has been a more active party in the talks with the Royals on proposed sites in Jackson County, most recently Washington Square Park, which is located north of Crown Center and east of Union Station. White says the county is 'ready to support the city's efforts and is willing to step back in should the team present a proposal for us to consider or express interest in reengaging. To date, the Royals have not done so.' If the Royals elects to pursue their original vision of downtown baseball — over options in Kansas or Clay County — that stadium is unlikely to be county-owned. At least one top Missouri lawmaker has suggested that the Royals moving to Clay County would take off 'half the pressure on Jackson County.' Chiefs team president Mark Donovan has consistently said that if the NFL team stays at Arrowhead Stadium, its local funding source would come through the county — which owns the stadiums at the Truman Sports Complex, where the teams are tied through a lease that expires in 2031. For two years, though, White and the Chiefs (and Royals, for that matter) have failed to reach an agreement on what taxpayer support beyond 2031 would entail. White vetoed a combined Chiefs and Royals measure to put a sales tax extension on the ballot before the county legislature overrode him and put the item in front of voters. They rejected it, 58-42%. The Chiefs are unlikely to return to the voters with anything other than a tax reserved for one thing and one thing only. They are adamant about dislodging any confusion from a future ballot question. A three-way chop would also, quite obviously, secure the team less money. For White, that's the idea. For the Chiefs, that would almost certainly be a sticking point, even after they have secured a path toward a significant contribution from the state. The Chiefs and Royals have long split the 3/8th-cent sales tax evenly, but they have separated their stadium plans moving forward — and any future ask of the voters would therefore be separate, too. That's purposeful in the aftermath of last year's rejection at the ballot box. In response to a question from The Star, Donovan said last week the Chiefs would likely target an April 2026 vote if they stay in the county. They estimate a renovated Arrowhead Stadium would cost north of $1 billion. But it's not yet clear what kind of tax they will seek absent sharing it with the Royals. White's request is that other county parties get a cut — 'generational investments in public health and public safety,' he called the proposed tax support for the courthouse, juvenile facility and hospitals. White and the Chiefs reengaged in talks after last year's vote failed, but they have not discussed the matter recently. Instead, Donovan said last week he talked to the county legislature, a signal of the team's potential plans to once again try to gather enough support from the nine-member committee to put the item on the ballot, rather than an avenue through White. In his letter to Kehoe, White sought an amendment to the Missouri sales tax statue to allow for the three-way split for the 3/8th-cent sales tax extension. The state's General Assembly would have to pass that amendment before a vote. The Star's Kacen Bayless contributed to this report.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mayor proposes change to half-cent sales tax criteria. Could it bring a Costco to Pueblo?
Could changes to Pueblo's half-cent sales tax for economic development help the city attract a Jellystone RV Park, Costco, Buc-ee's, or Super Target? Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham proposed changes to the way the sales tax funds could be used at a June 16 Pueblo City Council work session. Council is set to vote June 23 on an ordinance that enacts the proposed changes. The current criteria ordinance — extended in 2020 to last through Dec. 31, 2026 — allows half-cent sales tax funds to be spent on "primary job-creating capital improvement projects." The ordinance presented by Graham on June 16 would allow funding for "economic catalyst projects," projects that prevent "economic leakage," and projects promoting "placemaking." "I have been traveling around Colorado, viewing some other cities and counties, and seeing what they do as far as economic development and how they are thriving, while the city of Pueblo just remains stagnant," Graham said. In her June 16 presentation, Graham defined an economic catalyst project as one that substantially impacts a community by creating jobs, bolstering consumer spending, attracting outside investment, or growing the tax base. She listed infrastructure for businesses along Pueblo Boulevard, a sports complex, and an aquatic center as potential economic catalyst projects for Pueblo. New businesses like Buc-ee's, Costco, or Super Target were listed as examples of projects that could prevent economic leakage — drops in local revenue caused by the outflow of resources into nearby communities. "We know that many consumers within the city of Pueblo drive to Colorado Springs to enjoy Costco and Super Target," Graham said. "I am not sure if anyone from Pueblo drives up to Buc-ee's, but this would be an example of something that we can incentivize, that we can not incentivize at this point because of the criteria ordinance." Jellystone RV Park was given as an example of placemaking — "the process and act of creating high-quality public spaces and amenities that encourage people to want to live, work, play and learn in the city, community, or region," according to the presentation. Annual expended totals for one or more projects classified as economic catalyst projects, economic leakage prevention, or placemaking would not be allowed to exceed 15% of the Sales and Use Tax Capital Improvement Project Fund's uncommitted fund balance. Pueblo City Council also would remain the only authority able to approve projects and grant variances if the ordinance is approved. Pueblo City Council elections: Sam Hernandez announces second bid for Pueblo City Council, this time an at-large seat Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@ Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Could changing the half-cent sales tax bring a Costco to Pueblo?
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida GOP divide on taxes, budget could make for long, hot summer at Capitol
A standoff between Gov. Ron DeSantis and fellow Republicans in the Legislature is deepening – with differences over tax breaks now jeopardizing any chance of finalizing a state budget in an already extended session. DeSantis wants some kind of property tax give-back for Floridians. House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, is touting a cut in the state's 6% sales tax. Both sides are exchanging heated words even as lawmakers get ready to return to the Capitol next week. Here's what's fueling the divide. And a little history. DeSantis is trying to catch a wave, making Florida among a dozen Republican-led states considering how to cut or eliminate property taxes. No state has actually erased all property taxes, with 63% of voters in North Dakota last year rejecting a ballot measure that would've effectively done that. DeSantis earlier called for sending $1,000 rebate checks to the state's homesteaded property owners. But the Legislature ignored the idea. Instead, lawmakers outlined plans to study the idea while generally backing DeSantis' approach of putting a property tax overhaul on the November 2026 ballot. But it's getting tense. House Speaker Daniel Perez barked back at DeSantis after the governor recently ridiculed the idea of cutting Florida's sales tax. Perez said the state actually could cut sales tax now and property taxes later. DeSantis has cast the House-Senate idea of reducing Florida's sales tax by 0.25% – "a quarter of a penny," as he recently characterized it – as a concept that will mostly help 'the tourists and the foreigners.' Roughly 16% of state sales tax dollars came from tourists in 2021-22, according to state economists. But everything else comes from Floridians and businesses, they concluded. Property taxes power local governments, paying for police, fire, garbage pickup and other services whose futures could be clouded by a deep reduction. Sales taxes also are considered a regressive tax, "one that creates a larger burden on lower-income taxpayers than on middle- or higher-income taxpayers," as the nonpartisan Tax Foundation has explained. Since property taxes are imposed based on the market value of homes, office buildings and retail space, the tax is less regressive. For his part, Perez has been defiant: 'If the governor wants to veto that, he's welcome to explain to the voters why he thinks they do not deserve actual and meaningful tax relief,' he said. Deciding on the tax cuts may be key to settling the 2025-26 state budget, which is set to go into effect on July 1. But no tax cut deal maybe means no budget. Lawmakers are set to end their extended session June 6. Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, announced what they called the 'framework' of a deal May 2. That included $2.8 billion in tax cuts, with the biggest share being the sales tax cut. That cleared the way for a budget they promised would come in under the $115.6 billion level proposed by DeSantis for 2025-26. But with DeSantis sounding like he'd veto the sales tax reduction and push for some kind of property tax cut, that could set the stage for some drama. If the House and Senate forge ahead with their sales tax plan, could Perez get Albritton to go along with an effort to override a DeSantis veto? How Session went off the rails... Session derailed by dollar divides, deep distrust, then late-hour deal emerged House throws in wild card... GOP split deepens over plan to gut Florida tourism funding The House and Senate earlier this year overrode DeSantis' veto of $57 million in funding for legislative support services. But the Senate refused to join in when the House's later overrode four spending items from last year totaling about $4.7 million. The needed three-fifths support for overriding DeSantis on a tax cut veto is probable in the House. But it's a lot less clear whether the Senate is ready to go to all-out war with the Republican governor, which a tax cut override would signal. It was 10 years ago, that Florida Republican leaders last battled with even a shade of the ferocity seen now. At the time, Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, a hospital executive, pushed senators to insist on expanding Medicaid to cover lower-income, working families. The House, under Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, refused. He was backed by then-Gov. Rick Scott, co-founder of the Columbia Hospital Corp. The regular session ended without a state budget. And a three-week special session in June was called that eventually ended with a state spending plan – but no Medicaid expansion. Still, the three-week special session ended up costing taxpayers $651,435 extra for bringing legislators and staff back to the Capitol to complete their work. It stands as the longest, and costliest, special session of this century. Lawmakers that year were also back for 12 days in August for another combative special session, this time on congressional and legislative redistricting. But now, given the kind of harsh words being thrown about and the high-stakes nature of the clash underway between DeSantis and the Legislature, a rerun of 2015's lost summer appears possible. John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Network's Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@ Follow him on X: @JKennedyReport. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida GOP split on taxes, budget as lawmakers return to Capitol
CBS News
07-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
DeSantis threatens veto over sales-tax cut, escalates feud with House Speaker Perez
Potentially throwing a wrench into the budget process, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday threatened to veto a plan that would include lowering the state sales tax rate as he continues to feud with House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami. DeSantis has proposed providing one-time, $1,000 property-tax rebates this year to homeowners as a prelude to asking voters in 2026 to cut property taxes. DeSantis argued Wednesday that a House plan to reduce the sales-tax rate is something "nobody is asking for" and would "effectively kill any opportunity to do property-tax reform." He also has repeatedly said cutting sales taxes would benefit visitors to Florida, while property tax reductions would help homeowners. "I look forward to working with the Senate and relevant House members to have a good Florida-first tax package," DeSantis said during an appearance in Tampa. "But I can tell you, any Florida-last tax package is going to be dead on arrival. We are not going to kneecap our ability to provide you property-tax relief just so we can give a little bit of a benefit to Canadian tourists." Perez defends sales-tax cut, criticizes DeSantis' plan Indicating DeSantis might be "confused," Perez said the state can cut the sales tax rate and ask voters to reduce property taxes in 2026. "I give the governor credit for starting this debate, but he's had months to produce an actual plan to lower property-tax rates, and we're still waiting. An imaginary plan can't cut real taxes," Perez said in a statement. "The governor's team would like to respond that they do have a plan: send $1,000 checks from the state treasury as a fake refund for local property taxes. In fairness, it is consistent with the governor's record," Perez continued. "He likes these (California Gov. Gavin) Newsome-style 'free' money giveaways. Giving away $1,000 checks in a way that doesn't actually lower property taxes isn't a Band-Aid, much less a solution." The House approved a proposed tax package that would reduce the sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25%, but the Senate did not sign off on the idea. The House and Senate did not finish the annual legislative session as scheduled Friday because of the lack of agreement on the budget. Lawmakers are expected to return to Tallahassee next week if House and Senate leaders can agree on "allocations," which are overall amounts of money that go to various areas of the budget, such as education and health care. Conference committees then would negotiate details of the spending plan. With lawmakers considering a permanent reduction in the sales-tax rate and a cut in a commercial-lease tax, Perez projected that more than $30 billion would be returned to the economy over the next decade. "If the governor wants to veto that, he's welcome to explain to the voters why he thinks they do not deserve actual and meaningful tax relief," Perez said in the statement. "Maybe the truth is he just wants to spend all of it and be the only one who decides how." Perez said Friday that a sales-tax reduction is included in a budget "framework" that would be considered during the extended session. Reducing the sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25% would total about $5 billion, but the size of the cut is expected to shrink during negotiations. Perez said leaders are looking to provide about $2.8 billion in tax reductions, with $1.6 billion likely going to the sales-tax rate cut. Senate and House at odds, budget delays persist DeSantis was joined in Tampa by Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, and Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, who backed the call for property-tax cuts. "Almost everyone we talk to in the Legislature would rather have property-tax relief than sales-tax relief," Ingoglia said. The Senate has proposed providing a sales-tax exemption on purchases of clothes and shoes valued at $75 or less, rather than an overall cut in the sales-tax rate. A Senate tax package also included sales-tax "holidays" and trimming the commercial-lease tax. Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, in recent weeks pointed to "philosophical differences" with the House, as he expressed concerns about approving recurring tax cuts amid unsettled national economic forecasts. He raised the possibility that deep cuts could force lawmakers to address financial shortfalls in future years. Perez has appointed a House select committee to look at ways to cut property taxes and make recommendations that could go on the 2026 ballot. But during an appearance Tuesday, DeSantis ridiculed the House panel as a "dog and pony" show. In announcing the creation of the select committee, Perez called DeSantis' ideas about eliminating property taxes "exciting." But Perez said the governor hadn't provided specifics, while questions have swirled about potential effects of such a move on the ability of local governments to pay for police, fire-rescue, infrastructure and other services. DeSantis and Perez have clashed this year on a number of issues, such as immigration enforcement, university and college presidential searches and oversight of Hope Florida, an economic-assistance program closely tied to First Lady Casey DeSantis.
