More than $100 million of sales tax money could go to a developer of an Overland Park retail project in the next 20 years.
Corbin Park is currently one year into having two special sales taxing districts.
It's one of 14 projects with special taxing districts in Overland Park.
Under that plan, if you spend money at Corbin Park, you'll pay a higher sales tax.
That money goes into the developer's pocket.
The Corbin Park retail development spreads southeast past the corner of 135th and Metcalf. It features major stores like Scheel's and Von Maur. A new Dave and Buster's Restaurant is currently under construction.
"It has become perhaps the hottest commercial development in the city at the present time," said Overland Park City Councilman Terry Goodman.
Developer Michel Schlup bought the property in 2011 for roughly $8 million in bankruptcy court.
The court agreed to keep in place two taxing districts Overland Park city leaders had already approved.
"What these programs do, it shoulders the burden of development onto the taxpayers, and the developers get to keep all the profit," said Patrick Tuohey of the Show Me Institute, a conservative think tank.
Shoppers pay an extra 1.5 percent sales tax on everything purchased in Corbin Park.
Add that extra amount to the base Overland Park sales tax rate of 8.85 percent, and Corbin Park customers pay a total of 10.35 percent in sales tax.
"It doesn't make a humongous difference when it comes to making a purchasing decision," said Goodman.
If Schlup's company meets its development goals, it could rake in more than $100 million from Corbin Park in the next 20 years.
A year into collecting the special sales taxes, the company has already collected more than $800,000.
If it sounds like a win-win to have new shopping while the developer gets a major part of his expenses reimbursed, Tuohey doesn't think so.
He said tax deals like this one are picking winners and losers.
One developer may get one while other businesses try to compete without one.
Tuohey said many developers don't want to take on the risk of a project like Corbin Park without help.
"They're not going to do it with their own money," he said. "They need some sucker to come along to pour a bunch of money into the project and too often cities are willing to gamble with taxpayer dollars."
Goodman acknowledges a taxpayer subsidy of potentially more than $100 million will help Schlup's bottom line.
That tax money can only be reimbursed to Schlup's company for specific expenses. When those expenses are taxpayer subsidized, there's more room for profits.
Records the 41 Action News Investigators obtained show Schlup is building an 11,000 square-foot plus home on more than 33 acres about 6 miles south of Corbin Park
Construction started about the same time as the company started collecting special Corbin Park tax about a year ago.
Schlup declined to speak to 41 Action News about the deal.
While it appears the Corbin Park deal has been a big winner for Schlup, Goodman insists it's good for Overland Park as well.
With its growth, Goodman points out Corbin Park's property taxes have more than doubled from $964,000 in 2010 to $2.3 million in 2015.
Overland Park's piece of that tax collection has more than tripled from $76,000 in 2010 to nearly $250,000 in 2015.
"Corbin Park has I think certainly equaled if not exceeded expectations," Goodman said.
Since the economic collapse eight years ago, Goodman said it's become more difficult for developers to get the necessary private financing from banks for projects like Corbin Park.
As a result, he said public-private partnerships like the taxing districts at Corbin Park are essential to economic development.
As 41 Action News has previously reported, the man charged with the DUI manslaughter of Johnson County Master Deputy Brandon Collins used to work for Corbin Park developer Schlup.
Federal authorities are investigating the possibility Adrian Espinosa-Flores is an undocumented immigrant.
The 41 Action News Investigators asked Schlup on the phone if he's hired other undocumented immigrants.
He declined comment, citing a previous statement which says he's working with federal authorities.
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Andy Alcock can be reached at anderson.alcock@kshb.com.
