Lansing Council Rejects Riverbend Heights RHID Amid Taxpayer Concerns Over Developer Profits

The Leavenworth County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting on July 23, 2025, addressed significant concerns regarding the proposed Riverbend Heights Residential Housing Improvement District (RHID) and its potential impact on local resources and taxpayers.

The meeting began with discussions surrounding the financial implications of the development, particularly in relation to the Spring Veil School District, which spans two counties and recently passed a $60 million bond with a mill rate of 22. Local officials expressed concerns that the proposed development would exacerbate existing financial burdens on the community, particularly for essential workers such as police, firefighters, and teachers, who may find the new housing unaffordable.

One resident articulated that the current bond mill rate in Lansing is 14, with a mill levy of 58, and warned that the development would lead to increased taxes for residents. The speaker criticized the proposed financial arrangement, likening it to tipping a server excessively while receiving inadequate service, arguing that the majority of tax revenue would benefit the developer rather than the community.

April Cromer, another resident, commended the BOCC for capping RHIDs at 15 years, emphasizing the importance of representing taxpayers over developers. She highlighted the previous unanimous denial of the Riverbend Heights RHID by the Lansing City Council, citing concerns over the developer's attempts to manipulate the situation despite lacking community support.

Cromer further criticized the involvement of the Leavenworth County Development Corporation (LCDC) in promoting tax abatements for residential developments, suggesting that such actions prioritize corporate interests over the needs of local residents. She raised alarms about the potential diversion of funding from schools to support the developer's infrastructure needs, framing it as a form of corporate welfare.

The proposed development, which includes 406 homes, was described as a significant change to the county's landscape, raising concerns about its impact on roads, public services, and schools. Residents voiced their apprehension about the long-term consequences of the project, emphasizing the need for careful consideration of its effects on the community.

The meeting concluded with a call for the BOCC to prioritize the interests of local taxpayers and to ensure that any development aligns with the community's needs rather than serving external corporate interests. The discussions underscored the ongoing tension between economic development and the preservation of community resources in Leavenworth County.