KC already hospitable to teams

[Bob Dole]

From the Star

“Hasta la vista, baby.” That’s what Mike Hendricks (March 6) is afraid the Chiefs will say to Kansas City if voters reject the Jackson County sales tax on the April 4 ballot.

Not so fast. The Chiefs are not likely to leave Kansas City, where they have prospered quite nicely.

Consider these statistics: According to estimates published by Forbes magazine, the Chiefs have averaged $26.3 million in pretax profit for the 1998 through 2004 seasons. In 2005, the Chiefs ranked third among 32 National Football League teams in home-game attendance.

Another boon for the Chiefs is the annual increase beginning in the 2006 season of about $42 million in revenues from new national TV contracts. It is difficult to imagine a business that is in less need of public subsidy than the Chiefs.

Likewise, Kansas City has been good to the Royals. From 1990 through 2005, the Royals’ home-game attendance averaged about 20,500 fans.

Financially, the Royals are challenged by the inequitable revenue-sharing system of Major League Baseball resulting in a player payroll that was about half of the major-league average in 2005. This makes it difficult for the Royals to be competitive in Kansas City or anywhere else.

If the “threat” of the teams leaving is unrealistic, why are Jackson County voters being asked to approve a three-eighths-cent sales tax — which would raise $425 million — to renovate Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums? And why is the Missouri Development Finance Board considering $50 million in tax credits for the stadium improvements?

A $50 million subsidy of professional sports is unsound fiscal policy at a time when 100,000 very low-income Missourians have been cut from the state’s Medicaid health insurance program. Those left without health coverage include working parents, the elderly and people with disabilities.

Missouri’s elementary and secondary schools continue to be underfunded by $791 million, and the state’s universities and colleges have raised tuition an average of 58 percent in the past five years.

Certainly the Chiefs and Royals are tremendous economic and civic assets to Kansas City and our state. Missouri does provide financial support for the teams — $3 million a year for stadium maintenance.

These professional sports teams would be hard pressed to find a more favorable location than the Truman Sports Complex. If stadium renovations are needed, they can and should be funded entirely by the teams. After all, we expect other businesses to invest their own capital to sustain their enterprises.

Missouri taxpayers should not foot the bill and provide further subsidies to professional sports teams. Public dollars should be invested in strengthening Missouri’s basic services, such as health care and education; such investments will enhance economic development as corporations look closely at these services when deciding where to locate.

Pro sports teams bring a lot of excitement to Kansas City. They are and will continue to be good corporate citizens who are committed to the well-being of the community.

However, it is not the responsibility of Jackson County residents to fund profitable businesses.

Voters should reject the sales tax proposal on April 4.