KSHB 41 reporter Rachel Henderson covers neighborhoods in Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties. Share your story idea with Rachel.
Tom Burroughs, a candidate for mayor of Kansas City, Kansas, believes the community is on the verge of significant economic growth. As a seasoned political figure with over two decades of experience in the Kansas State Legislature and as an At-Large District 2 commissioner for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Burroughs emphasizes the importance of experienced leadership to guide this progress.
Burroughs currently serves as Mayor Pro Tem in the absence of the mayor and has been a key figure in advancing economic development initiatives. He highlights the importance of collaboration among the ten-member commission, acknowledging that aligning priorities can be challenging. However, he remains committed to respectful cooperation with anyone who prioritizes Wyandotte County’s interests.
The western part of Wyandotte County has seen major developments, including the Kansas Speedway, Hollywood Casino, American Royal, the Legends Outlet Mall, and Children’s Mercy Park. Burroughs credits STAR Bonds as a crucial mechanism for enabling these projects. He recalls carrying the Kansas Motor Speedway STAR bonds bill during his early legislative years, a policy that ultimately succeeded in fostering local growth.
Reflecting on the transformation of Village West, Burroughs notes how the area has evolved from his childhood, when residents had to leave the community for entertainment, leading to economic leakage. He stresses the need to maintain momentum in economic development while addressing property tax concerns. Last summer, the Unified Government commission voted not to exceed revenue neutral in response to public demand for lower taxes, a decision Burroughs supports. He clarifies that this did not result in budget cuts, only the absence of new budget allocations.
Burroughs estimates that exceeding revenue neutral would have added $15 million in tax burdens this year. Despite concerns about potential impacts on infrastructure, such as deteriorating bridges, he insists these issues existed prior to the revenue-neutral decision. He also highlights recent efforts to seek federal funding for bridge repairs alongside Mayor Tyrone Garner during a visit to Washington D.C.
One positive outcome of the revenue-neutral vote was the milestone where sales tax revenue surpassed property tax for the first time in modern history. Burroughs attributes this shift to strategic economic development rather than random initiatives. He envisions attracting major league sports franchises to Wyandotte County, a prospect previously unimaginable.
Looking ahead to the World Cup, Burroughs sees an opportunity to promote local small businesses and cultural diversity. As a member of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority Board, he advocates for improved transportation infrastructure, particularly near 69th Street and State Avenue. Additionally, the board is exploring similar projects on the east side of Wyandotte County, where development has lagged.
Burroughs supports the proposed conversion of the former Quindaro Power Station into a data center, viewing it as a strategic move to showcase the city’s potential. He concludes by emphasizing that Kansas City, Kansas, is a first-class city with significant growth prospects.
— news from KSHB 41 Kansas City
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Kansas City, Kansas, mayoral candidate calls for increased economic development
KSHB 41 reporter Rachel Henderson covers neighborhoods in Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties. Share your story idea with Rachel.
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When Tom Burroughs looks out at western Wyandotte County, he sees progress.
KCK mayoral candidate Tom Burroughs considers himself political veteran
“This is where, I think, Wyandotte County turned the corner,” Burroughs said. “I think there’s tremendous opportunity about ready to happen for this community, and it’s important to have a seasoned veteran as mayor to make sure that we benefit collectively as a community.”
Burroughs serves as the At-Large District 2 commissioner for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, and as Mayor Pro Tem in the absence of the mayor.
He served as a Democratic state representative in the Kansas State Legislature for over 20 years, a role that overlapped with his service as a commissioner for about five years.
“I have the same responsibilities as a commissioner,” Burroughs said. “I take pride in that because it’s knowledge and experience, and it is important that we continue to utilize that knowledge and experience, but I can’t do it alone.”
Burroughs acknowledges that the current commissioners aren’t always on the same page.
“With any collected body, finding a priority that everyone can agree to can be a challenge, especially with a large body of 10 commissioners,” he said.
As mayor, Burroughs says his criteria for collaboration are simple.
“As long as we can keep it respectful, I believe that we can get anything done collectively,” Burroughs said. “I am willing to work with anyone that has the initiative to put Wyandotte County first.”
Burroughs chose to speak with KSHB 41’s Rachel Henderson in western Wyandotte County, an area filled with economic development projects, including the Kansas Speedway, Hollywood Casino, American Royal, the Legends Outlet Mall, and Children’s Mercy Park.
He credits STAR Bonds as a key tool for making this development possible.
“My colleagues in the legislature tapped me to carry the Kansas Motor Speedway STAR bonds bill on that House floor as a freshman,” Burroughs said. “I was honored and humbled to do so, and we succeeded in getting this piece of policy passed.”
Village West’s development is far from what Burroughs remembers growing up in KCK.
“If we wanted to do anything, even go to a movie theater, we had to go outside our community, so our dollars were exported,” Burroughs said.
He says relying on property taxes for revenue is what got the county into a bind similar to what it faces now.
“With the economic development progress that Wyandotte County ‘s made, we must not lose that momentum,” Burroughs said. “Property tax is the number one issue.”
He’s proud that the UG commission voted not to exceed revenue neutral in response to community members pleading for lower property taxes last summer.
“I applaud the commission for listening to the public and their outcries to do something to help us, and we did,” Burroughs said. “I think there’s a lot of miscommunication as to revenue neutral. There were no budget cuts, there was just not new budget money.”
Burroughs says exceeding revenue neutral would have cost taxpayers an additional $15 million this year.
He stands by that vote, even after recent concerns about that decision leading to an impact in services, like infrastructure.
“We have major bridges down throughout our community,” Burroughs said. “Those need to be addressed. Those didn’t happen because of revenue neutral. They were down before revenue neutral.”
He said he and a group of people, including Mayor Tyrone Garner, visited Washington D.C. this year to speak with congressional leaders about funding for KCK bridges.
As for the revenue neutral conversation, he says it needs clarity.
“I think there’s a lot of miscommunication as to revenue neutral,” Burroughs said. “There were no budget cuts, there was just not new budget money. Our services were already of concern. But where were we going to continue to get the revenue to provide those services and needs? We needed to take a pause, and the prudent thing to do is review the budget process collectively as a body.”
He’s actually excited about the outcome that’s come from the vote, one that has to do with sales taxes.
“For the first time in modern times, for Kansas City, Kansas, Wyandotte County, our sales tax now exceeds property tax,” Burroughs said. “That is something our community so desperately needed. And that comes from economic development. Not just throwing hodgepodge economic development out, but being strategic.”
Part of that strategy means attracting “major league sports teams,” Burroughs said.
“We are on the site of a possible discussion with a major league sports franchise that could very well be in Wyandotte County,” Burroughs said. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to say when have we ever had that conversation? That large economic development projects like that would consider Wyandotte County.”
He’s also looking ahead to the World Cup.
“They have an opportunity to visit our small businesses, the mom and pops that make up the backbone of Wyandotte County, and to share with them the cultural differences that are on display here,” he said.
As a member of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority Board, he says transportation is a major issue that needs to be addressed ahead of the World Cup through projects like a recent housing and transportation proposal the board is considering near 69th Street and State Avenue.
As for development on Wyandotte County’s east side, which residents say is not getting invested in, Burroughs says the board is considering a similar transportation project near 18th Street.
“Economic development is a priority, no matter where it’s at,” Buroughs said. “On the Northeast end, we have a tremendous amount of land.”
Part of that land, the former Quindaro Power Station, is being considered as a new data center site.
Burroughs says he’s in favor of that development and any that bring attention to the city.
“We need to showcase our community,” Burroughs said. “We are a city of the first class.”
The five other candidates who have filed for the Mayor/CEO position are Christal Watson, Rose Mulvany Henry, Janice Witt, Gwendolyn S. Thomas, and Mark Gilstrap.
Henderson ‘s first interview was with Rose Mulvany Henry, and her second was with Christal Watson.
All of the candidates will compete in the primary election on Aug. 5, and the top two will face off in the Nov. 4 general election.