Topeka lodging group outlines 2026 TBID spending, cites lost room nights
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Summary
The Topeka Lodging Association presented the tourism business improvement district (TBID) 2026 scope and budget, reporting $277,388.84 provided to the downtown Topeka Foundation in 2025 and listing proposed allocations and a continuation of the $1-per-room TBID fee.
Kurt Young, executive director of the Topeka Lodging Association, told the Topeka City Council on May 20 that the tourism business improvement district (TBID) advisory board filed its 2026 scope of services and budget as required under the Kansas Business Improvement District statute.
Young said the Topeka Lodging Association (TLA) provided $277,388.84 in TBID dollars in 2025 to the downtown Topeka Foundation to fund daily operations at Evergy Plaza and gave $15,000 to the Topeka Area Sports Commission to expand youth sports in Shawnee County. He said TLA also annually contributes $10,000 to USSSA to help keep the Kansas Kids wrestling tournament in Topeka and staffs a barbecue for participants that has historically cost about $5,000; Young said that barbecue cost will likely double in 2026.
Young said the TBID was adopted by ordinance March 14, 2017, and began Jan. 1, 2018. He presented a 2026 budget that, he said, lists $286,825 to the downtown Topeka Foundation; $7,000 for city administration; $30,975 for TLA administration; and $20,825 for a TLA contingency. The TBID fee methodology proposed is a continuation of the $1 fee on each qualifying room sold within the TBID district.
Councilwoman Miller thanked Young for his work. Young and Miller described the Kansas Kids tournament as a long-running draw to the city; Young said the tournament had grown to nearly 2,800 wrestlers in 2025 from earlier counts of about 1,000–1,500.
No formal council action on the TBID budget was recorded at the May 20 meeting; Young concluded his presentation and took questions.
