KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On Friday, the Royals released a joint statement with the Kansas City Chiefs committing to staying in Jackson County IF the Jackson County Legislature agrees to put a 3/8 cent sales tax on the April ballot.
Monday afternoon, the measure passed 8-1.
PASSED 8-1. Voters will decide in April whether to fund a sales tax for the @Chiefs and @Royals
— Charlie Keegan (@CharlieKeegan41) January 8, 2024
To be clear, that is not a new sales tax, just a continuation of the tax that's already in place.
"Our intent is, should we be on the ballot in April, we are committed to staying in Jackson County. And it's important, time is of the essence. There is a real sense of urgency here," shared Sarah Tourville, executive vice president and chief commercial and community impact officer with the Royals.
READ | Chiefs, Royals to remain in Jackson County if voters approve sales tax measure in April
If the continuation of the sales tax is approved, the money would help pay for a new stadium for the Royals and renovations to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Ultimately, by voting to add the measure to April's ballot, the decision is now up to voters.
While some local leaders, such as KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas, have been supportive of this next step, others, namely County Executive Frank White Jr., have expressed concerns the process is being rushed.
"We are seeking approval. The legislators today have a meeting at 3 o’clock in the Jackson County Legislature," Tourville said. "They will vote to approve a resolution to put this on the ballot on January 23rd. There is the power of the county executive to veto that, [but] we are hopeful that that wouldn’t be the case."
However, representatives for the Royals and a local builders association, who will be a part of new construction, said now is precisely the time to act.
Bridgette Williams, CEO of the Heavy Constructors Association, was involved in the construction of the new terminal at the Kansas City International Airport and will be involved with work on a new stadium.
Moving forward, Williams said it is crucial to capitalize on the momentum Kansas City is experiencing.
"I believe the county executive has not minced any words about his concern for an April ballot initiative. We don’t know why, but it depends on the influence that he has on those legislators," Williams said. "I think the reality is, they are playing with fire.
"Kansas City is on the move and it is a rising star, and to put at risk anything that would potentially detract from our teams remaining in Jackson County is not good for Kansas City or for Missouri. All you have to do is point to St. Louis and look at what happened when they lost their football team."
Tourville chimed in, adding should the legislature or White decline to place this issue on the ballot, the Royals, and possibly the Chiefs, will go back to the drawing board, meaning there's still a chance they could leave Jackson County.
"We’ve been fairly clear that if we are on the ballot in April, we are committed to Jackson County — that is our primary focus," Tourville said. "If we aren’t on the ballot in April, then, I don’t want to speak for the Chiefs, but I think they’ve been clear, too, that at that point in time, we are back evaluating what really is the best long-term scenario for both teams."
Ahead of the meeting, White released a statement reiterating his dedication to "working closely with legislators, our sports teams and all stakeholders."
"This commitment holds true whether the issue reaches the ballot or not. My office is ready to continue constructive engagement in every step of this process, ensuring the best outcomes for all involved," per White's statement. His entire statement can be found HERE.
One of the points of contention for White was the lack of a signed Community Benefits Agreement, or CBA.
But, when I sat down with representatives for the Royals and a local builder who's expected to be part of construction on a new stadium, they claimed they've already committed to a CBA.
However, they say specifics for a CBA are not practical at this point, because the details of that are contingent upon the exact site the team chooses, as well as community input they'll need to gather.
A representative for the Royals notes they will base a CBA off what was used in the construction of the new KCI terminal.
Williams was instrumental in setting up that community benefits agreement at KCI.
"The community benefits agreement at KCI was transformative, and it was the first of its kind in the country," Williams said. "It provided an opportunity, not only for inclusion and diversity, but for opportunity."
She adds some of those benefits they expect to see with this project include goals for hiring minority and female-owned businesses as well as employees, providing employee housing, making transportation accessible, and more.
But, when it comes to the details, she says much like at KCI, those will continue to evolve as the project moves forward.
"What was unique about the KCI community benefits agreement is it started with a framework that was then negotiated throughout the development process, up to when construction started. It wasn’t something that, when we put the airport on the ballot, that the community benefits agreement was not complete at the time," Williams adds.
A representative for the Royals I spoke to notes this CBA is in addition to concessions the team has already made with the city and county, totalling around $200 million.
"The joint statement between the Chiefs and the Royals was to continue to be transparent to showcase that concessions have been made that are very substantial and very significant," Tourville said. "Let’s not get in the way of the voters of Jackson County having an opportunity to determine what’s best for them."
Williams reiterated, "Everything the County Executive has requested from the teams, they have conceded. But the goal keeps getting moved. It is time to end the game and put it on the ballot."
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