STAR Bonds

The Unified Government’s STAR bond deal came with a Kansas promise to rebuild and repair three major bridges in Wyandotte County. But some officials say they want more commitments from the team.

Olathe council members voted unanimously to commit some sales and hotel guest taxes revenues as part of the Chiefs deal that will bring a new training facility and HQ to the city. Many residents at a public hearing spoke against the plan over a lack of transparency.

City documents reveal the exact proposed location of a new team training facility and headquarters: at the corner of College Boulevard and Ridgeview Road.

In ongoing debates over the NFL team’s planned move to Kansas, Republicans and Democrats are forming rare alliances on both sides of the issue.

The sheer size, scope and total projected dollar amount of the Chiefs' project — which includes a new stadium in Wyandotte County and a new headquarters in Johnson County — dwarfs existing incentive districts in Overland Park and Olathe.

Stadium deals in Kansas and Washington — both involving relocations within the same metropolitan area — have set separate records for taxpayer subsidies to sports teams. That's despite decades of research suggesting stadiums are a wasteful use of limited tax dollars.

The state of Kansas is luring the Kansas City Chiefs across the state line with funding from STAR Bonds, a unique kind of tax incentive. The team plans to build a $3 billion stadium in Wyandotte County and a practice facility worth hundreds of millions of dollars in Olathe.

Kansas lawmakers are offering billions in tax incentives to build a new domed stadium and convince the Chiefs to leave Missouri. University of Kansas associate professor Zachary Mohr joined KCUR's Up To Date to discuss how STAR bonds work, and what risks and benefits come with using them.

The state of Kansas will likely pay between $3-4 billion in taxpayer money to move the Kansas City Chiefs across state lines. While the new stadium will definitely generate new economic activity, the project's success may depend on local cities participating in the STAR bond district.

Mayor Christal Watson said no decisions have been made on whether Wyandotte County will help pay for a new stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs. Some Kansas City, Kansas, residents worry local governments haven't been good stewards of their money.

Bonner Springs is giving more than $200 million of tax incentives for Mattel Adventure Park. City officials say it will boost the local tax revenues. But a public finance expert says the deal will mostly cost the state.

Even the poorest-drawing baseball teams can attract more than 1 million fans in a year, far more than any football stadium. As Kansas and Missouri continue their border war over Kansas City sports teams, should they be focused on courting the Royals over the Chiefs?