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Downtown Topeka Inc. presents 2027 budget request; council and residents discuss outreach and timing
Summary
Downtown Topeka Inc. presented a $204,000 2027 budget request and described outreach, improved billing, and programming plans; council members asked for more community outreach and staff said a vote will likely occur within 30 days.
Jessica Moreno, manager for Downtown Topeka Inc. (DTI), presented the BID's proposed 2027 budget of $204,000. Moreno said the district adopted a conservative approach after discovering outdated account information and underperforming collections; the organization restructured billing, implemented a new account system in coordination with city staff and expects continued programming, activations and weekend events through the remainder of 2026.
Moreno told the council DTI mailed a 5x7 postcard to contributors ahead of invoices scheduled for June 5 to increase transparency and collections. She said collections for the year exceeded expectations with $211,000 collected for 2026 and that the 2027 request will support district maintenance, programming and marketing — including additional security camera integration with the real-time crime center.
Councilmembers praised Moreno's early outreach and urged broader neighborhood engagement beyond Kansas Avenue. Councilmember Valdivia Alcala asked when the council would vote; staff said the presentation-only item should return to the council within about 30 days for a formal vote.
