Shawnee will hold public election in May on property tax increase to fund proposed $38 million community center

The city of Shawnee is moving forward with a public vote on a property tax increase to fund a proposed community center.

After months of discussion, the council voted 7-1 on Monday to hold a mail-in ballot election this May on whether to increase property taxes to fund the project, which will have a maximum cost of $38 million. Councilmember Mike Kemmling cast the dissenting vote.

City finance staff estimated the community center would require a property tax increase of 2.919 mills. That would equate to an additional $7.36 per month for the owner of a home with an appraised value of $263,130, the average appraised value for a home in Shawnee. During discussion ahead of the vote, a majority of councilmembers said they thought it was important to give the public the opportunity to approve the city’s funding plan for the community center.