JOHN HANNA, AP Political Writer
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Sam Brownback’s budget director says the state will not lose existing sales tax revenues if it pursues a project aimed at luring the annual American Royal horse and livestock exhibition to Kansas from Kansas City, Missouri.
Budget Director Shawn Sullivan said Tuesday that any development for the American Royal in Wyandotte County will be a “stand alone” project that won’t tap sales tax revenues generated in a nearby shopping and entertainment district featuring Kansas Speedway.
Some legislators are trying to prevent the project from being financed with bonds backed by state sales tax revenues.
The development could include a new hotel, children’s museum and 5,000-seat hockey arena.
The American Royal issued a statement Tuesday saying that it has been exploring options for a future location.
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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A project aimed at luring the American Royal horse and livestock exhibition to the Kansas side of the Kansas City metropolitan area could include a new hotel, children’s museum and 5,000-seat arena for hockey.
A Kansas Department of Commerce report obtained Monday by The Associated Press says the proposed development “is assumed” to include those projects and 12 other elements.
The American Royal is a 2½-month exhibition each fall in Kansas City, Missouri.
But the proposal’s future is uncertain.
Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration wants to use a special economic development program to fund it. But Kansas legislators have included a provision in budget legislation to prevent the state from doing so.
They say Kansas is too cash-strapped to give up sales tax revenue as part of the program.