Council majority favors letting voters decide on one-cent sales tax for Wichita

A majority of Wichita City Council members favor putting a one-cent sales tax question on a March special election ballot.

Several council members have said they want to give voters the decision about the $850 million proposal to fund public safety projects, property tax relief and revitalizing Century II and the surrounding area, among other things. They are expected to vote on that Tuesday.

“I’m looking forward to allowing the community to have that say in an open voting process,” Wichita Mayor Lily Wu told The Eagle last month.

Council members Dalton Glasscock, Mike Hoheisel, Brandon Johnson and J.V. Johnston also have voiced support for placing the question on a ballot.

It would take four of seven council votes to place the sales tax question on a special election ballot.

“Wichitans should have the final say in how we fund police, fire, and property tax relief,” Glasscock said in a statement to The Eagle. “Placing this sales tax question on the ballot gives residents a direct voice in shaping our city’s future. If citizens want lower property taxes and stronger public safety, this vote empowers them to make that choice.”

Hoheisel said he was supportive of the sales tax question to help address homelessness issues in the city.

“We can go a long way towards addressing homelessness and affordable housing with the part allotted for addressing those issues, and that’s really what has me interested in this,” Hoheisel said. “It’s about setting the stage for the future.

“We heard that homelessness among seniors is supposed to double over the next decade, and this could be a way to get out ahead of that now, and I think that’s our job is to try and address these issues before they become a crisis.”

Council members Becky Tuttle and Maggie Ballard did not respond to requests for comment.

Who is proposing Wichita sales tax?

The sales tax was proposed by Wichita Forward, a coalition made up of prominent Wichita businessmen, including Aaron Bastian of Fidelity Bank; Ben Hutton of Hutton; and Jon Rolph of Thrive Restaurant Group.

It would fund these items while it’s being collected:

• $250 million to go toward Century II ($25 million) and the convention space complex ($225 million)
• $225 million for public safety capital improvement projects
• $150 million for capital improvements and operating costs at Second Light (formerly the Multi-Agency Center) and affordable housing
• $150 million for property tax relief, which the group’s website says could provide “12% relief” through 2033
• $75 million to build a new performing arts center, with an additional $75 million to be raised by private donations to complete construction

If voters approve the sales tax, it would go into effect on July 1, 2026. It would end after seven years.

Wording of ballot question for Wichita sales tax proposal

City documents show how the sales tax question would appear on the ballot:

1. Shall the City of Wichita, Kansas, be authorized, pursuant to K.S.A. 12-187 et seq., to impose a one percent (1.0%) city-wide retailers’ sales tax to be effective July 1, 2026, and which will terminate no later than June 30, 2033, the revenues derived therefrom to be applied as follows?

A. An amount not to exceed $225 million dollars of such tax applied to Public Safety costs for support of City police and fire facility construction and maintenance, the acquisition of vehicles, apparatus and equipment and other purposes related to providing Police and Fire Services for the City;

B. An amount not to exceed $250 million dollars of such tax applied to pay the costs for Revitalization of Century II (not to exceed $25 Million) and Upgraded and Expanded Convention Center Improvements (not to exceed $225 Million);

C. An amount not to exceed $150 million dollars of such tax applied for Property Tax Relief;

D. An amount not to exceed $150 million dollars of such tax applied to establish a restricted-special fund, with earnings from such fund to be reinvested into this special fund, to support Homeless and Housing Services by funding affordable housing projects and programs, shelter facilities, a multi-agency center and its operations and related services for people experiencing homelessness; and

E. An amount not to exceed $75 million dollars of such tax applied for Development and Construction of a New Downtown Public Performing Arts Center.

How much will special election on sales tax cost?

The election would take place on March 3, 2026. Wichita Forward opted for an in-person rather than a mail-ballot election.

An in-person election will cost the city $150,000, according to an estimate from the election commissioner provided to the city. A mail-in ballot election would have been $455,000, the city’s agenda report said.

The coalition organizing the election is also calling for an oversight committee of no more than 15 people to meet twice a year to provide an audit to the city council on expenditures.

The coalition asking for the ballot question will host two informational meetings: 5:30 p.m. Dec. 8 and 5:30 p.m. Dec. 15, both at the Advanced Learning Library, 711 W. 2nd St.

This story was originally published December 5, 2025 at 12:08 PM.