January 03, 2006

Moving the goalposts in K.C.

Turns out that $425 million sales-tax hike to be voted on in April isn't the last that Kansas City area residents will be asked to pay for upgraded homes for the Chiefs and Royals. Jackson County Sports Complex Authority attorney Mike White tells the Kansas City Business Journal that the authority also plans to ask the public for a $100 million rolling roof that could cover both stadiums, plus additional stadium maintenance funds from the city of Kansas City. "You could put a roof on the ballot a year from now, two years from now," said White. Presumably the only reason the roof wasn't included in the April vote is it was feared residents would balk at an overall price tag of $525 million; so this should work as long as nobody spills the beans to voters that further subsidies will be necessary later ... d'oh!