Shawnee council raises transient guest tax to 9% amid World Cup planning

The Shawnee City Council voted Feb. 9 to raise the city's transient guest tax from 8% to 9%, a move staff said would generate roughly $115,000 annually and provide additional revenue for tourism and economic development programs including a temporary World Cup transit circulator.

Deputy City Manager Colin Duffy told the council the city’s charter ordinance (Charter Ordinance 48) allows a levy up to 9% and that the proposed 1 percentage‑point increase would add an estimated $115,000 each year to the city's revenues. Duffy also said state law changes require an update to the charter ordinance to address accommodations brokers and short‑term rental definitions.

During debate, Councilmember Kurt said he saw the increase as unnecessary and called it “kind of a money grab,” and said he would vote against the measure. Resident Joe Quinn, who addressed the council during public comment, urged the council to adopt the increase only temporarily — proposing a sunset clause tied to the World Cup period and an automatic reversion to 8% after mid‑July.

Council supporters said the timing offered a chance to capture near‑term tourism dollars and to help fund regional initiatives such as a Johnson County World Cup circulator bus. One councilmember noted the expected revenue from a 1% increase would more than cover the city's share of the circulator.

After public comment and discussion, the council adopted the resolution to establish the transient guest tax rate at 9% by voice vote; one member opposed. Staff indicated they will return later in the year to update the charter ordinance language to match state statute.

The action takes effect under the procedures set by the adopted resolution; the council did not attach an automatic sunset to the increase when it voted. Questions about detailed implementation for short‑term rental broker collections were referred to staff for follow up.