Shawnee County approves CID and 2% sales tax for Stormont Vail Event Center

The Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners unanimously adopted Resolution 2025-11 on Dec. 22 to create a community improvement district (CID) encompassing county-owned land and improvements near the Stormont Vail Event Center and to authorize a 2% retailer's sales tax inside that district.

Bond counsel presented the resolution and a map of the district boundaries to the commission and said the proposed district excludes the hotel and a city-owned fire station but includes a county-owned parking facility and the Harley-Davidson building. The counsel said the resolution was published as required and that the Department of Revenue would administer the retailer's sales tax if the district is created.

The resolution drew no public comment during the hearing. Commissioners opened and then closed the required public hearing and approved the CID by voice vote, 3-0.

Why it matters: a CID with an additional retailer's sales tax is intended to provide a dedicated revenue stream for improvements and services within the designated boundary. The record indicates the board intends to publish the final map and file the resolution with the state tax director as the next procedural steps.

The commission did not specify a timeline for expenditures or a detailed spending plan in the hearing. The county also confirmed that property owned by the city (a fire station) and at least one private hotel parcel are excluded from the boundary. The resolution will be published again as required by statute and filed with the Director of Taxation.

The commission moved on to subsequent agenda items immediately after the vote.