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Impact
For many people in Wichita, financial stability is fragile.
A rent increase. A higher grocery bill. An unexpected medical expense.
For our seniors on fixed incomes, our hourly workers, and people already stretching every dollar, these aren’t just price adjustments, they are life-altering shifts.
The Wichita Forward proposal starts with this reality. We aren’t just looking at the bottom line; we’re looking at the people behind the numbers, ensuring our city’s progress doesn’t come at the expense of our neighbors with the least flexibility.
Keeping housing costs from rising faster
Property taxes don’t just affect homeowners. When they rise, those costs are often passed on to renters through higher rent.
That’s why the proposal includes $150 million dedicated to property tax relief. The intent is to reduce long-term pressure on the property tax base and help stabilize housing costs.
More stable property taxes help:
- Seniors stay in their homes longer
- Renters avoid sudden rent increases
- Homeowners and small landlords manage rising costs
This is not about lowering taxes for one group. It’s about preventing costs from escalating for everyone, especially those least able to absorb them.
Protecting people with the least flexibility
The proposal recognizes that a sales tax can affect households differently. That’s why Wichita Forward supports targeted measures to protect those most stretched by everyday expenses.
Wichita Forward supports:
- A $55 grocery rebate for qualifying low-income households to help offset added costs.*
- Continued exemption for essential food purchases—SNAP and WIC are not subject to sales tax under state and federal law.
- Support for House Bill 2456, which would allow Wichita to exempt groceries from local sales taxes altogether.
These measures are intended to ensure that people already working the hardest to make ends meet are protected first.
*The $55 rebate program is based on the impact of the 1% sales tax on estimated food and grocery purchases. The average family spends $5,500 on groceries (roughly $120 a week). The rebate provides reimbursement for the 1% impact of the sales tax on food.
Sharing responsibility more fairly
A sales tax allows visitors to help invest in the city they benefit from.
People who come to Wichita for conventions, concerts, sporting events, dining, and shopping rely on the same public safety services, streets, and community facilities as residents. Under this proposal, visitors are estimated to contribute roughly $200 million of the total $850 million raised.
When visitors help share the responsibility, local families don’t have to carry the full load alone.
Jobs, stability, and opportunity
Investments in convention and performing arts facilities are not just about buildings. They support jobs across the hospitality, service, and small business sectors.
These are jobs that help people:
- Work more consistent hours
- Pay their bills
- Stay in Wichita and support their families
A stronger visitor economy helps create stability for workers and keeps more dollars circulating locally.
A fairer path forward
No funding decision is painless. Wichita Forward does not claim otherwise.
But this proposal is designed to address urgent needs now while avoiding harder choices later, such as sharp property tax increases or cuts to essential services. At its core, this approach is about recognizing real-life differences and making sure people with the least flexibility are protected as Wichita invests in its future.