As a mayoral candidate in Topeka, you want to reallocate the portion of the Countywide Sales Tax (JEDO) funds currently designated for Go Topeka—an economic development organization—into road projects within the 2025-2034 CIP, and then update the funding numbers accordingly. The CIP document allocates JEDO funds for economic development and infrastructure projects (Pages 110-122), but the specific breakdown for Go Topeka isn’t provided in the document excerpt. I’ll use web information and reasonable assumptions to estimate the Go Topeka allocation, reallocate $5,000,000 to roads, and revise the numbers for your campaign.
Step 1: Understand Go Topeka and Its JEDO Funding
- What Is Go Topeka?: Go Topeka is an economic development organization under the Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO), focused on business attraction, retention, and workforce development in Topeka and Shawnee County.
- JEDO Funding in the CIP: The CIP allocates $93,299,706 for JEDO projects over 2025-2034 (Pages 9-11), covering economic development, road projects, county bridges, Kansas Expocentre, Topeka Zoological Park, and the Bikeways Master Plan (2014 ballot, Image).
- Annual Breakdown (2025-2029):
- 2025: $4,950,000
- 2026: $7,000,000
- 2027: $9,350,000
- 2028: $13,460,855
- 2029: $16,550,050
- Total (2025-2029): $51,310,905
- Go Topeka Allocation:
- The CIP document doesn’t specify the Go Topeka portion, as Pages 110-122 are truncated.
- Web ID 6 (Shawnee County Commission, 2016) provides historical context on the JEDO tax distribution. It doesn’t mention Go Topeka directly but notes adjustments like $2 million for the Topeka Zoo and $1 million for the Bikeways Plan, with a focus on prioritizing street projects.
- Web ID 14 (Topeka Capital-Journal, 2015) mentions that Go Topeka received $5 million annually from the JEDO tax in 2015 for economic development efforts, such as business incentives and marketing. This aligns with your request to reallocate $5,000,000.
- Assumption: Let’s assume Go Topeka continues to receive approximately $5 million annually from the JEDO tax in the 2025-2034 period, consistent with the 2015 figure. Over 10 years, this would be $50,000,000 (2025-2034), and for 2025-2029, it would be $25,000,000 (5 years × $5 million).
Verify the Assumption
- Total JEDO Funds: $93,299,706 (2025-2034).
- Go Topeka Portion: $50,000,000 (assumed, based on $5 million/year).
- Percentage: $50,000,000 ÷ $93,299,706 ≈ 53.6% of JEDO funds.
- Reality Check: The 2014 ballot lists 13 road projects, county bridges, Kansas Expocentre, Topeka Zoo, and the Bikeways Plan alongside economic development. If Go Topeka takes 53.6%, the remaining 46.4% ($43,299,706) would fund all other projects, including roads. This seems high for Go Topeka alone, as historical data (Web ID 6) prioritized roads. However, since you specified $5,000,000 for Go Topeka, I’ll proceed with reallocating that amount, assuming it’s a one-time or annual reallocation within the 2025-2029 period.
Adjust for $5,000,000 Reallocation
- You requested to reallocate $5,000,000 from Go Topeka to roads. Let’s assume this is a one-time reallocation (not annual), as $5 million is a reasonable project-specific amount within the CIP’s scope. I’ll distribute this $5,000,000 across 2025-2029 proportionally to the JEDO funds per year:
- Total JEDO (2025-2029): $51,310,905.
- 2025: $4,950,000 ÷ $51,310,905 ≈ 9.65% → 9.65% of $5,000,000 = $482,500
- 2026: $7,000,000 ÷ $51,310,905 ≈ 13.64% → 13.64% of $5,000,000 = $682,000
- 2027: $9,350,000 ÷ $51,310,905 ≈ 18.22% → 18.22% of $5,000,000 = $911,000
- 2028: $13,460,855 ÷ $51,310,905 ≈ 26.23% → 26.23% of $5,000,000 = $1,311,500
- 2029: $16,550,050 ÷ $51,310,905 ≈ 32.26% → 32.26% of $5,000,000 = $1,613,000
- Total (2025-2029): $5,000,000
Step 2: Current Road Funding in the CIP
- Fix Our Streets Sales Tax:
- 2025-2029: $111,002,901
- 2025: $24,402,000
- 2026: $21,426,020
- 2027: $19,536,768
- 2028: $22,170,053
- 2029: $23,468,060
- Federal Funds Exchange:
- 2025-2029: $6,432,970
- 2025: $1,315,000
- 2026: $1,317,000
- 2027: $1,800,970
- 2028: $1,000,000
- 2029: $1,000,000
- JEDO (Roads Portion): Previously estimated at 60% (roads + bridges).
- 2025-2029: 60% of $51,310,905 = $30,786,543
- 2025: $2,970,000
- 2026: $4,200,000
- 2027: $5,610,000
- 2028: $8,076,513
- 2029: $9,930,030
- Total Current Road Funding (2025-2029):
- Fix Our Streets: $111,002,901
- Federal Funds Exchange: $6,432,970
- JEDO (Roads): $30,786,543
- Total: $148,222,414
Step 3: Reallocate $5,000,000 from Go Topeka to Roads
- Add to JEDO Roads:
- 2025: $2,970,000 + $482,500 = $3,452,500
- 2026: $4,200,000 + $682,000 = $4,882,000
- 2027: $5,610,000 + $911,000 = $6,521,000
- 2028: $8,076,513 + $1,311,500 = $9,388,013
- 2029: $9,930,030 + $1,613,000 = $11,543,030
- Total (2025-2029): $30,786,543 + $5,000,000 = $35,786,543
- New Total Road Funding (2025-2029):
- Fix Our Streets: $111,002,901
- Federal Funds Exchange: $6,432,970
- JEDO (Roads): $35,786,543
- Total: $148,222,414 + $5,000,000 = $153,222,414
Impact on JEDO Allocation
- Original JEDO (2025-2029): $51,310,905
- Go Topeka Reduction: Subtract $5,000,000.
- Remaining JEDO Funds (2025-2029): $51,310,905 - $5,000,000 = $46,310,905 (for roads, bridges, Bikeways Plan, Kansas Expocentre, Topeka Zoo).
- Annual JEDO (Non-Roads Portion):
- 2025: $4,950,000 - $3,452,500 = $1,497,500
- 2026: $7,000,000 - $4,882,000 = $2,118,000
- 2027: $9,350,000 - $6,521,000 = $2,829,000
- 2028: $13,460,855 - $9,388,013 = $4,072,842
- 2029: $16,550,050 - $11,543,030 = $5,007,020
- Total (2025-2029): $46,310,905 - $35,786,543 = $15,524,362
Step 4: Update the Overall CIP Numbers
- Original Total CIP (2025-2029): $561,897,202
- Impact of Reallocation:
- The $5,000,000 is redirected within JEDO funds, so the total CIP spending remains $561,897,202.
- JEDO allocation remains $51,310,905 for 2025-2029, but now $35,786,543 goes to roads, and $15,524,362 remains for other JEDO projects (bridges, Bikeways, Expocentre, Zoo, and reduced economic development).
- New Breakdown by Funding Source (2025-2029):
- Fix Our Streets Sales Tax: $111,002,901 (unchanged, roads)
- Countywide Sales Tax (JEDO): $51,310,905 (now $35,786,543 for roads, $15,524,362 for other projects)
- Federal Funds Exchange: $6,432,970 (unchanged, roads)
- General Obligation (G.O.) Bonds: $100,022,638 (unchanged)
- Revenue Bonds: $191,278,308 (unchanged)
- Operating Fund Water: $35,055,382 (unchanged)
- Operating Fund Stormwater: $14,839,400 (unchanged)
- Operating Fund Wastewater: $29,632,859 (unchanged)
- Operating Fund General/IT: $12,041,848 (unchanged)
- Total: $561,897,202 (unchanged)
Annual Totals (Adjusted for JEDO Reallocation)
- 2025:
- Fix Our Streets: $24,402,000
- JEDO (Roads: $3,452,500, Other: $1,497,500): $4,950,000
- Federal Funds Exchange: $1,315,000
- G.O. Bonds: $16,777,781
- Revenue Bonds: $48,623,774
- Operating Fund Water: $6,258,467
- Operating Fund Stormwater: $3,690,000
- Operating Fund Wastewater: $4,252,819
- Operating Fund General/IT: $2,372,542
- Total: $116,642,383 (unchanged)
- 2026:
- Fix Our Streets: $21,426,020
- JEDO (Roads: $4,882,000, Other: $2,118,000): $7,000,000
- Federal Funds Exchange: $1,317,000
- G.O. Bonds: $13,140,321
- Revenue Bonds: $32,777,390
- Operating Fund Water: $5,412,566
- Operating Fund Stormwater: $3,262,000
- Operating Fund Wastewater: $8,252,760
- Operating Fund General/IT: $2,374,549
- Total: $98,158,111 (unchanged)
- 2027:
- Fix Our Streets: $19,536,768
- JEDO (Roads: $6,521,000, Other: $2,829,000): $9,350,000
- Federal Funds Exchange: $1,800,970
- G.O. Bonds: $7,577,577
- Revenue Bonds: $28,106,400
- Operating Fund Water: $11,190,268
- Operating Fund Stormwater: $3,562,500
- Operating Fund Wastewater: $7,625,760
- Operating Fund General/IT: $2,376,637
- Total: $94,163,567 (unchanged)
- 2028:
- Fix Our Streets: $22,170,053
- JEDO (Roads: $9,388,013, Other: $4,072,842): $13,460,855
- Federal Funds Exchange: $1,000,000
- G.O. Bonds: $38,048,725
- Revenue Bonds: $28,666,512
- Operating Fund Water: $4,933,079
- Operating Fund Stormwater: $2,162,400
- Operating Fund Wastewater: $5,625,760
- Operating Fund General/IT: $2,457,931
- Total: $118,573,114 (unchanged)
- 2029:
- Fix Our Streets: $23,468,060
- JEDO (Roads: $11,543,030, Other: $5,007,020): $16,550,050
- Federal Funds Exchange: $1,000,000
- G.O. Bonds: $24,478,234
- Revenue Bonds: $53,104,232
- Operating Fund Water: $7,261,002
- Operating Fund Stormwater: $2,162,500
- Operating Fund Wastewater: $3,875,760
- Operating Fund General/IT: $2,460,189
- Total: $134,360,027 (unchanged)
Total Road Funding (2025-2029)
- Fix Our Streets Sales Tax: $111,002,901
- Federal Funds Exchange: $6,432,970
- JEDO (Roads): $35,786,543
- Total: $153,222,414 (increase of $5,000,000 from the original $148,222,414).
Campaign Talking Points with Updated Numbers
- Increased Road Investment:
- New road funding: $153,222,414—an increase of $5,000,000.
- “I’m reallocating $5 million from Go Topeka to our roads, boosting our five-year road investment to over $153 million. That’s more funding to fix streets like SW 17th and Topeka Boulevard.”
- Five-Year Road Spending Snapshot:
- 2025: $24,402,000 (Fix Our Streets) + $1,315,000 (Federal Funds Exchange) + $3,452,500 (JEDO Roads) = $29,169,500
- 2026: $21,426,020 + $1,317,000 + $4,882,000 = $27,625,020
- 2027: $19,536,768 + $1,800,970 + $6,521,000 = $27,858,738
- 2028: $22,170,053 + $1,000,000 + $9,388,013 = $32,558,066
- 2029: $23,468,060 + $1,000,000 + $11,543,030 = $36,011,090
- Total: $153,222,414
- Economic Development Trade-Off:
- Acknowledge the $5 million cut to Go Topeka.
- “Roads are critical for economic growth—better infrastructure attracts businesses. I’ll work with Go Topeka to find alternative funding, like grants, to keep supporting jobs.”
- Project Completion:
- “With an extra $5 million for roads, we’ll accelerate projects from the 2014 ballot, ensuring streets like SW 6th Avenue and NW Rochester Road get the attention they deserve.”
Final Summary with Revised Numbers
The 2025-2034 CIP originally planned $561,897,202 for 2025-2029, with $148,222,414 for roads (Fix Our Streets, Federal Funds Exchange, and 60% of JEDO). By reallocating $5,000,000 from Go Topeka to roads, the new road investment rises to $153,222,414—an increase of $5,000,000. This redirection reduces Go Topeka’s funding within the JEDO allocation, leaving $46,310,905 for other JEDO projects (roads, bridges, Bikeways, Expocentre, Zoo, and remaining economic development). The total CIP spending remains $561,897,202, with other categories unchanged. As mayor, you can campaign on this $153 million road investment, promising to prioritize infrastructure while seeking alternative funding for economic development initiatives.
If you need further adjustments or campaign materials, let me know!
