Wichita Faces Tough Choices After Failed Sales Tax Vote

City leaders scramble to address rising property taxes and homelessness amid budget constraints

Mar. 21, 2026 at 8:48am

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Wichita voters have rejected a proposed 1% citywide sales tax that would have provided limited property tax relief and funding for the city's new homeless services campus, Second Light. With property values and tax bills on the rise, city leaders are now weighing options like homestead refunds and state-level reforms, while also racing to secure private donations and budget support to keep Second Light operational beyond the fall.

Why it matters

The failed sales tax vote has left Wichita in a difficult position, as the city must now find ways to ease the burden of rising property taxes on residents, especially those on fixed incomes, while also maintaining critical services and addressing the growing issue of homelessness. The fate of Second Light, a key initiative to provide comprehensive support for the city's unhoused population, hangs in the balance, underscoring the complex challenges Wichita faces in balancing its budget and serving the needs of the community.

The details

After voters overwhelmingly rejected the proposed 1% sales tax, Wichita leaders are now exploring alternative options to provide property tax relief, such as homestead refunds and state-level reforms. Meanwhile, the future of the Second Light homeless services campus is uncertain, as the facility could run out of funding by the fall. City officials are scrambling to secure private donations and budget support to keep the campus operational, as a recent study estimates that homelessness costs Wichita and Sedgwick County over $20 million annually.

  • Wichita voters rejected the proposed 1% citywide sales tax in a recent election.
  • The Second Light homeless services campus could run out of money by the fall of 2026.

The players

Wichita

The city of Wichita, Kansas, which is facing the consequences of a failed sales tax vote and rising property taxes.

Second Light

Wichita's new homeless services campus, which is at risk of running out of funding due to the failed sales tax vote.

Wichita State University

A university that conducted a study estimating the annual cost of homelessness in Wichita and Sedgwick County at over $20 million.

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What they’re saying

“We must find ways to ease the burden of rising property taxes on residents, especially those on fixed incomes, while also maintaining critical services and addressing the growing issue of homelessness.”

— Wichita City Leader

What’s next

City leaders are exploring alternative options to provide property tax relief, such as homestead refunds and state-level reforms. They are also working to secure private donations and budget support to keep the Second Light homeless services campus operational beyond the fall.

The takeaway

Wichita's failed sales tax vote has left the city in a precarious position, forcing it to balance the needs of its residents, including those facing rising property taxes and homelessness, with limited resources. The fate of the Second Light initiative highlights the complex challenges the city faces in addressing these issues, underscoring the importance of finding sustainable solutions that serve the entire community.