0.1% sales tax for affordable housing trust fund and homeless initiatives

At a glance

What: Resolution calling a March 2, 2027 special election on a citywide 0.1% special purpose sales tax; requires six votes.
Update 2026-10-20: the Governing Body voted 8-1 (Ortiz no) to send the question to a March 2, 2027 mail-ballot election. Motion by Hiller, second by Miller. Based on auto-generated captions.

A new 0.1% citywide special purpose sales tax, about $4 million a year; first collections July 1, 2027 (about $2 million in the first half-year).
At least 50% to the affordable housing trust fund; the rest to evidence-based homeless initiatives (programs, operating and construction costs, outreach, transportation, rental assistance, affordable housing).
A homeless services committee, created by ordinance and modeled on the housing trust fund review committee, would recommend spending to the council; structure to be set within about 60 days.
Special election cost estimated at $155,000, revised up from about $118,000. The sales tax rate is now 9.35%.

For: Bradberry (prevention costs less than crisis response; the public decides), Banks, Mayor Duncan (targeted purpose; the council can later repeal). Steve Henry spoke for Topeka JUMP.
Kell first preferred August, then changed his mind after Bradberry. His cleanup amendment was not adopted because counsel said the language already covers it.
Hoferer asked that city administrative costs be recovered.
Against: Ortiz (cost, pace, "transportation services" too broad). Joseph Ledbetter and Henry McClure opposed a special election.

First non-action discussion of revised ballot language: at least 50% to the housing trust fund, the rest to homeless initiatives, 10-year term. About 28 minutes of the larger sales tax debate.
Valdivia-Alcala wanted Built for Zero named and was wary of putting it on a March ballot without more public explanation; City Manager Perez preferred general wording so funding is not tied to one program. Bradberry proposed requiring evidence-based practice, a plan and measurable outcomes, which several members backed.
Hoferer asked about unspent balances, early repeal and spending guidelines; Ortiz asked to add transportation services (including helping people return to family elsewhere), which the Mayor and Perez were open to.
Hiller, McGee and Miller were comfortable moving this question to March; Kell and Ortiz preferred August. Mayor Duncan said he would rewrite the language for a decision the next week. A caller supported the tighter language. No vote.

Half-cent general-purpose sales tax (about $20 million a year, possibly three fire stations) and renewal of the half-cent infrastructure tax, floated for August 2027; not on the March ballot. FY2028 deficit forecast $13.3 million.
See also Half-Cent General Purpose Sales Tax, FY2026 9+3 Financial Report and City Auditor charter ordinance amendment.

About 70 minutes across 2 meetings (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting	Minutes
2026-10-20 - City Council	42
2026-10-13 - City Council	28

2026-10-20 - City Council - action item A passed 8-1 (Ortiz no): question goes to a March 2, 2027 mail ballot; 42 minutes with three public speakers.
2026-10-13 - City Council - first discussion of the revised ballot language alongside the half-cent tax; leaned toward tightening wording (evidence-based programs, transportation services); no vote.
2026-10-22 - Page created from a posted agenda; no meeting transcript processed yet.
2026-10-06 - 2026-10-06 - City Council: first non-action discussion of a 0.1 percent sales tax for affordable housing and homeless services (about $4 million a year); the council leaned toward an August 2027 ballot.