TOPEKA (KSNT) – City leaders are set to discuss a resolution Tuesday night that could lead to the installment of a new sales tax to help fund affordable housing and homeless initiatives in Topeka.
Members of Topeka’s City Council will gather on Oct. 20 to discuss the resolution and possibly take action on it. If the resolution is approved by city leaders and local residents, it would lead to the installation of a 0.1% citywide retailer’s sales tax that would take effect on or shortly after July 1, 2027, and last for a period of 10 years.
Topeka voters would be tasked with voting on whether or not to approve the proposed tax in a special election on March 2, 2027, if the city council approves of the resolution. The vote would be held by mail ballot and would cost around $118,000 out of the city’s general fund to hold. The question voters would see on their ballots is shown below:
“Shall the following be adopted?
Shall the City of Topeka levy a retailers’ sales tax in the amount of one-tenth percent (0.1%) with a minimum of 50% of the revenue going towards the affordable housing trust fund and not more than half of the revenue going towards evidence-based homeless initiatives, including but not limited to, programs, operating and construction costs, outreach, support, and transportation services, rental assistance, and affordable housing, within the City of Topeka, Kansas; such retailers’ sales tax to take effect on July 1, 2027 or as soon thereafter as permitted by law, and shall end ten years after its commencement, such tax to be levied pursuant to K.S.A. 12- 187, et. seq.?”
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City staff estimate the 0.1% tax would help to generate $4 million each year. Including helping to fund the affordable housing trust fund, the tax would also provide funding for the following homeless initiatives:
- Operating and construction costs
- Outreach
- Support
- Transportation services
- Affordable housing
- Rental assistance
City staff also recommend, in addition to the proposed 0.1% tax, the introduction of a new half-cent citywide sales tax and renewal of an existing half-cent citywide infrastructure sales tax. City staff are recommending the formation of a Citizen Sales Tax Committee that will pass along its suggestions to the Topeka City Council next year in March. Topeka residents would then be asked to vote on the proposed sales tax collections in August 2027 which, if approved, would take effect at the beginning of 2028.
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