KANSAS CITY, Mo. 05/ The Kansas City Council today voted to send five measures to the August 4, 2026, ballot, covering water and sewer infrastructure, affordable housing, historic civic facilities, and East Side economic development.
Affordable Housing
A $100 million general obligation bond headed to August voters would pour new resources into Kansas City's Housing Trust Fund. Since its establishment in 2018, the fund has awarded more than $61 million and helped create nearly 3,000 units of affordable housing through a competitive, bi-annual RFP process overseen by a dedicated Housing Trust Fund Board. If approved, the bonds would finance rehabilitation, new construction, and blight removal for very low- to moderate-income households. This measure requires no tax increase. Approval requires a four-sevenths majority.
Convention and City Facilities
A $100 million general obligation bond for the renovation of city convention facilities, including Municipal Auditorium and the Music Hall which opened in 1935, and government buildings constructed before 1950, such as City Hall which opened in 1936, was also approved for the August ballot. Structured as a no-tax-increase initiative (timed over multiple years to match the roll off of existing general obligation debt) the measure would fund capital improvements to the civic landmarks that have been fixtures of Kansas City community life for generations and which continue to generate substantial revenue for the City today. This measure requires no tax increase. Approval requires a four-sevenths majority.
Central City Economic Development Sales Tax
The Council voted to place the renewal of the Central City Economic Development (CCED) Sales Tax on the August 4 ballot. Since voters first approved the one-eighth cent sales tax in 2017, it has delivered more than $88 million across 58 projects on Kansas City’s East Side, creating jobs, growing small and locally-owned businesses, and building sustainable neighborhoods. If renewed, the tax would continue for another ten years, picking up when the current authorization expires September 30, 2027.
Water Infrastructure
A $750 million waterworks revenue bond question will be before August voters, with no impact on property taxes. The bonds would finance rehabilitation, expansion, and improvements to Kansas City’s waterworks system, ensuring reliable service and continued compliance for residents and businesses. Like the sewer measure, repayment would be funded solely by water system revenues.
Sewer Infrastructure
The Council approved placing a $750 million sanitary sewer revenue bond question on the August ballot. If approved by voters, the bonds would fund rehabilitation, expansion, and improvements to Kansas City’s sanitary sewer system, including acquiring necessary land and rights of way. Repaid solely from sewer system revenues, the measure carries no property tax impact. The Council has committed to structuring the issuance to minimize the effect on ratepayers while keeping the system in compliance with federal, state, and judicial requirements.
“From the pipes beneath our streets to the roofs over our neighbors' heads, today's ballot measures touch every corner of Kansas City life,” said Mayor Quinton Lucas. “We're putting a comprehensive vision for this city's future directly in the hands of the people.”