Kansas lawmakers are more optimistic about the chances of passing property tax relief this session. One proposal is a constitutional amendment that would cap property tax valuation changes at 3% for most properties, while another would cap spending by local governments.

The city approved massive tax breaks because they say the money and protections city will receive make it a good deal. Opponents want to put the incentives on the ballot so residents can weigh in.

Independence City Council set to vote Monday night on AI data center tax incentives. Approval would mean the data center developer would pay a fraction of the taxes it would normally owe on buildings, land and equipment.

Driven by an overheated residential market and decades of commercial exemptions, a flip in the tax base means that Kansas families are paying the lion’s share for schools, roads and emergency services.

KC Water began the Westport Stormwater Improvement Project in January of this year to combat flash floods that have regularly put sidewalks and parking lots in Westport under water. They know the flood mitigation is needed but it makes daily life difficult for people who work, shop and eat in the area.

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum recently revealed its vision for a new, expanded campus and hotel that will make it possible for the museum to host more exhibits and turn 18th and Vine into a destination. It’s just one of many ongoing development projects aimed at revitalizing the historic jazz district.

Kansas City adopted stricter energy conservation codes in 2023, hoping that neighboring cities would follow its lead. Instead, it may have become a competitive disadvantage, as Kansas City saw a drop in building permit applications while its neighbors saw big spikes.

Constant fights over bus funding have meant service cuts and long wait times for riders. Now, dozens of riders are launching a union, and they hope others join to make service better for everyone.

Flint Development has reportedly sold warehouse property near El Paso, Texas, to build an 8,500-bed immigration detention center. The company currently has several properties in the Kansas City metro.

Western Kansas has the potential to capitalize on our region’s growing energy demands even as rural populations shrink. There’s plenty of land, wind and sun to be a center for renewable energy production. But skepticism is bringing these projects to a halt.

The hyperscale data center would go in eastern Independence, near schools and an ammunition plant. A growing number of residents are trying to stop city officials from providing any tax incentives to the company to keep it from being built.

The Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council wants the Port Authority of Kansas City to pass rules that ensure workers on projects funded by the port will earn a good wage and be part of work training programs.