KC should learn from Overland Park's youth soccer project
Yael T. AbouhalkahKansas City wants to build several youth soccer fields in Swope Park, sparking a fight with the Raytown School District and others over how to fund the project.
So it’s worth looking at how Overland Park financed its 12-field soccer complex.
It cost almost $37 million, and the annual debt is paid from the hotel guest tax and the alcohol tax.
Overland Park, in other words, made the fields a priority and used its own funds to build them.
Kansas City should try that approach, too, and stop trying to grab money from other taxing jurisdictions.
Patt Getman Losiewicz
5 months agoKansas City doesn’t need to keep up with Overland Park. We have many other things in Kansas City that shine. I agree it would be nice to fix the soccer fields in Swope Park it is not necessary to gouge the other taxing jurisdictions to do so. The plan is too grandiose and unfortunately too many people would be hurt (including the neighborhood that provided the TIF money in the first place). Do what is right and follow the original agreement and then ask nicely to use the remaining funds for new development. Bullying everyone does not work and only causes those involved to bristle up and fight.