City cancels tax district for west Wichita project
The Wichita City Council voted to terminate the proposed tax financing district for a west side development project that included the "Bowllagio" bowling center, retail shops and restaurants. The Maize 54 project was planned for Kellogg and Maize Road.
The council had to cancel the district because of a vote last month by the Sedgwick County Commission. The commissioners rejected the tax district, saying it would have an adverse impact on the county and its finances. The district would have allowed the use of increased property tax revenue to pay for some project costs.
The council vote to rescind the tax district was 5-1, with Jeff Longwell voting no. Longwell said county commissioners had talked about five points that made the tax district valid, and he wants to know specifics on the county's finding of an adverse impact.
Some county commissioners stated during their meeting that the tax district would have provided funding for drainage improvements, and they didn't feel that was appropriate.
The developers of the Bowllagio project will now have to decide if they want to move forward with the project, and it was stated at the county commission meeting last month that they have been looking at other possible locations.
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