Commissioners approve multiple tax-exempt bond measures and set CID hearing for Expo property

The Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners on Nov. 24 approved several measures to support local development, including an intent to issue taxable multifamily housing revenue bonds for a 176‑unit project and two industrial revenue bond packages intended to secure sales‑tax exemptions for private expansions.

At a public hearing the board approved Resolution No. 2025‑95 expressing the county’s intent to issue taxable multifamily housing revenue bonds and to enter into base‑lease and lease‑purchase agreements with Johnson Bettis Meadows LP, a special‑purpose entity described in the meeting as connected to the Topeka Housing Authority and a Nebraska developer. The measure is intended to allow the developer to seek a state sales‑tax exemption to facilitate construction of a 176‑unit multifamily facility near SE 31st Street and SE Fremont Street. No members of the public spoke at the hearing; the board closed the hearing and approved the resolution by voice vote, 3‑0.

The board also approved two industrial revenue bond (IRB) intent resolutions. Resolution No. 2025‑96 authorizes intent to issue taxable IRBs and related documents for AFAD Incorporated, the title owner of a Subaru dealership on South Kansas Avenue, to support an estimated 16,500‑square‑foot addition for showroom and service functions. Commissioners approved Resolution No. 2025‑97 to authorize IRBs for BHI Development Inc. to support about $7 million in improvements at the I‑470/S. Topeka Blvd/S. Kansas Ave intersection; the county noted the developer is negotiating prospective tenants for the site.

Separately the board set a public hearing for Dec. 22 (Resolution No. 2025‑98) to consider creating a Community Improvement District for county‑owned land at the Kansas Expo Center area (staff and commissioners discussed replacing the Expo Center label in the resolution with the Stormont Vail Event Center name before publication). The county attorney’s office said the CID could allow special assessment proceedings and an additional sales‑tax levy for certain district purposes; the board set the hearing date and directed staff to publish the notice as required.

All measures were approved by voice vote, recorded as 3‑0 in the meeting record. County staff noted the County Counselor’s office reviewed background checks and township notifications where required.

What’s next: the CID proposal will return for a public hearing on Dec. 22. The multifamily bond and IRB actions record the county’s intent; any final tax‑exemption or bond issuance steps will require additional reviews and legal documents before sales‑tax exemptions or bond closings occur.