Wichita tried a 1% sales tax measure before. This year’s election has key difference
In less than a month, Wichita voters will decide whether to approve a 1% citywide sales tax in order to fund projects like revitalizing Century II, building a new performing arts center and offering some property tax relief.
It isn’t the first time the city has asked voters to implement such a tax.
Twelve years ago, voters rejected a similar 1% proposal, one that would have lasted five years and garnered nearly $400 million for four projects: expanding an existing water source to increase city supply ($250 million), street repairs ($27.8 million), job development ($80 million) and public transit ($40 million).
The proposal proved widely unpopular, with about 63% voting “no” on the additional tax, compared to the 37.6% who voted to approve it.
The strategy behind this year’s tax referendum differs in a key way, however. It will not go on a general election ballot as the 2014 question did. Instead, the city is hosting a special election — set to cost $170,000 — Tuesday, March 3.
The Wichita City Council initially approved the March special election in December 2025. After pushback, Mayor Lily Wu called a special meeting in January in a failed bid to move the referendum to the August primary.
City council members who supported the March special election cited the need for revenue to address deferred maintenance at fire and police stations, as well as the need for money for the homeless shelter.
“Postponing only pushes those costs in the future,” council member Dalton Glasscock said in the January meeting.
Revenues from the sales tax, if implemented, are expected to total $850 million over the seven years it would be in place. That money would be committed to several projects: up to $25 million for Century II, up to $225 million to expand the convention center, up to $75 million for a new performing arts center, up to $225 million for public safety capital improvement projects and up to $150 million for homeless programs and affordable housing. The final $150 million would go toward property tax relief.
Tuesday, amid scrutiny its tax spending plan was too vague, the Wichita City Council approved what it called guardrails, limiting the spending of the first $300 million generated to projects involving housing, property tax relief and public safety.
The tax is conservatively estimated to cost the average Wichita family an additional $352 a year.
Quick information about Wichita’s special election for a sales tax
If Wichita voters approve the sales tax in March, the charge will be in line with many surrounding municipalities.
Clearwater, Derby, Garden Plain, Goddard, Hayesville, Kechi, Maize, Park City and Valley Center all have 1% citywide sales taxes in place.
The deadline to register to vote in the special election has passed, and early voting begins at the Sedgwick County election office Tuesday, Feb. 17. Other early voting sites open Thursday, Feb. 26.
Election Day polls will open at 7 a.m. March 3 and close at 7 p.m. You can check your polling location at the Kansas secretary of state’s VoterView portal.
