• Publications
    • Essay
    • Case Study
    • Policy Study
    • Report
    • Testimony
    • Other
    • Newsletter
  • Blog
    • Daily Blog
    • Podcasts and Radio
    • Video
    • Infographics
    • Commentary / Op-Eds
    • Events
  • Events
  • Donate
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Show-Me Institute Board of Directors
    • Fellows and Scholars
    • Our Authors
    • Jobs
  • Contact
  • Explore Topics
    • Education
      • Accountability
      • Education Finance
      • Performance
      • School Choice
    • Health Care
      • Free-Market Reform
      • Medicaid
    • Corporate Welfare
      • Special Taxing Districts
      • Subsidies
      • Tax Credits
    • Labor
      • Government Unions
      • Public Pensions
    • State and Local Government
      • Budget and Spending
      • Courts
      • Criminal Justice
      • Municipal Policy
      • Property Rights
      • Transparency
      • Transportation
    • Economy
      • Business Climate
      • Energy
      • Minimum Wage
      • Privatization
      • Regulation
      • Taxes
      • Welfare
      • Workforce
Show Me InstituteShow Me Institute
Show Me InstituteShow Me Institute
Support the Show-Me Institute
  • Publications
    • Essay
    • Case Study
    • Policy Study
    • Report
    • Testimony
    • Other
    • Newsletter
  • Blog
    • Daily Blog
    • Podcasts and Radio
    • Video
    • Infographics
    • Commentary / Op-Eds
    • Events
  • Events
  • Donate
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Show-Me Institute Board of Directors
    • Fellows and Scholars
    • Our Authors
    • Jobs
  • Contact
  • Explore Topics
    • Education
      • Accountability
      • Education Finance
      • Performance
      • School Choice
    • Health Care
      • Free-Market Reform
      • Medicaid
    • Corporate Welfare
      • Special Taxing Districts
      • Subsidies
      • Tax Credits
    • Labor
      • Government Unions
      • Public Pensions
    • State and Local Government
      • Budget and Spending
      • Courts
      • Criminal Justice
      • Municipal Policy
      • Property Rights
      • Transparency
      • Transportation
    • Economy
      • Business Climate
      • Energy
      • Minimum Wage
      • Privatization
      • Regulation
      • Taxes
      • Welfare
      • Workforce
Corporate Welfare / Subsidies

Kansas City Star Editorial Gets It Right on Tax Subsidies

By Kelvey Vander Hart on Jun 28, 2019
Downtown KC

Scruggelgreen / Shutterstock

Developers in Kansas City are asking for yet another subsidy, this time with a price tag of $63 million. One of the loudest opponents of the deal is the editorial board of the Kansas City Star—and they are right in their call to reject this proposal.

The proposal, which is being considered by the Kansas City Council, seeks funding to help build an office tower and parking garage combination (requiring $27 million and $36 million in subsidies respectively). The building site is at the corner of 13th and Main, right in the heart of downtown. Supporters of the project argue that the subsidies would help provide needed office space.

As ludicrous as the idea of government subsidizing private development in a popular area already is, it gets better—there are no tenants lined up to occupy the space. In other words, economic development officials want the government to spend $63 million on office space . . . just in case.

Jon Stephens, CEO of Port KC (which is currently an active participant in this proposal), attempted to explain this reasoning: “The demand for ready-to-occupy space has been proven in other markets. The demand appears to be present here.”

The editorial board is asking the correct questions in response to Stephens’ comment. If the demand is there, why are taxpayer dollars needed? If the demand isn’t, why would you ask taxpayers and government to take on that risk?

If downtown Kansas City is attractive to a company, then the company should pay for building its own office space. Private developers should be building based on market forces, without being cushioned from risk by taxpayer subsidies.

The Star’s editorial board is right: “It’s time for downtown projects in Kansas City to stand on their own merits, not on public dollars subsidizing private development.”

 

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Email
  • Print
About the author

Kelvey Vander Hart

More about this author >
    Footer Logo
    Support the Show-Me-Institute
    Showmeinstitute.org is brought to you by Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity.
    • Publications
    • Blog
    • Events
    • Donate
    • About
    • Contact

    Reprint permission for Show-Me Institute publications and commentaries is hereby granted, provided that proper credit is given to the author. We request, but do not require, that those who reprint our material notify us of publication for our records: [email protected]

    Mission Statement
    Advancing liberty with responsibility by promoting market solutions for Missouri public policy.

    © Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved