Interlocal - This agreement is the legal blueprint that turned the voter-approved sales tax into the primary long-term funding source for JEDO/Go Topeka’s economic development efforts — a model that has continued (with extensions) for over two decades. It directly links the 0.25% sales tax to the organization’s operations and priorities.

 

Summary of Interlocal Agreement – One-Quarter of One Cent Sales Tax (November 1, 2001)

This 6-page document is the foundational Interlocal Agreement (Shawnee County Contract No. C261-2001 / City of Topeka Contract No. 37437) that formally created the Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO) as a separate legal entity. It was signed on November 1, 2001, by Shawnee County and the City of Topeka following voter approval of the ¼-cent countywide retailers’ sales tax on November 7, 2000.

Key Background

  • The sales tax (0.25%) was approved to fund economic development and countywide infrastructure development.
  • Tax effective date: January 1, 2003, for 4 years (expires December 31, 2006).
  • Economic development is broadly defined to include research, target marketing, business retention/expansion, new business recruitment, infrastructure, site acquisition, incentive funds, workforce training, and related activities — all guided by the annual priorities set by JEDO and the Topeka/Shawnee County Economic Development Plan.

Major Provisions

  1. JEDO Governance (7-member voting board):
    • 3 Shawnee County Commissioners
    • City of Topeka: Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and 2 City Council members
    • Chair rotates annually between County and City (County chairs in even-numbered years)
    • Remaining 6 City Council members serve as ex-officio (non-voting)
    • JEDO sets its own policies, can hire staff, own property, and is subject to Kansas Open Meetings and Open Records Acts.
  2. Funding Mechanism (the core of the agreement):
    • 2002: County dedicates revenue from 1 mill of ad valorem (property) taxes as a no-interest loan to the economic development program; repaid from future sales tax revenue.
    • 2003 onward (for the life of the tax + 1 year): The first $4,800,000 of annual sales tax revenue is dedicated directly to JEDO for economic development.
    • Any sales tax revenue above $4.8 million goes to Shawnee County for bridges and infrastructure projects, with 50% specifically set aside for the Topeka Boulevard Bridge and other City bridge improvements.
    • JEDO must use at least 10% (goal: 20%) of its economic development funds to support projects for racial minorities and women/minorities.
  3. Operations & Oversight:
    • Annual priorities are set by JEDO each January after joint input from City Council, Mayor, and County Commission.
    • JEDO can contract with an independent contractor (e.g., GO Topeka) for up to 1 year at a time, subject to annual review.
    • Annual audit required; results filed publicly.
    • Agreement cannot be terminated early by either party (tied to the life of the sales tax).
  4. Property & Termination:
    • Any property owned by JEDO at termination reverts jointly to the City and County.

Signatories

  • Shawnee County: Chairman Vic Miller; attested by County Clerk Cynthia A. Beck
  • City of Topeka: Mayor Harry Felker; attested by Deputy City Clerk

This agreement is the legal blueprint that turned the voter-approved sales tax into the primary long-term funding source for JEDO/Go Topeka’s economic development efforts — a model that has continued (with extensions) for over two decades. It directly links the 0.25% sales tax to the organization’s operations and priorities.

Would you like me to compare this to later JEDO funding documents, highlight any changes over time, or pull a specific section for more detail?

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