Springfield Voters Reject Convention Center Lodging Tax Again

City will not pursue the measure for a third time, focusing instead on other community priorities.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 6:09pm

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A serene, cinematic painting depicting a convention center building in soft, warm light, with a few pedestrians walking by on the sidewalk, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation about the community's priorities.The failed convention center tax vote reflects a community prioritizing everyday concerns over major development projects.Springfield Today

Voters in Springfield, Missouri have rejected a measure to increase the city's lodging tax by 3% to fund a regional convention center, with 57.87% voting against the proposal in Tuesday's election. This marks the second time the measure has failed, after a similar ballot question was rejected in November 2025 with 52.55% of voters opposed.

Why it matters

The failed convention center tax vote reflects the community's priorities shifting away from a major development project and towards more immediate concerns like public safety, homelessness, and infrastructure. City leaders say they will not pursue the measure again and will instead focus on addressing the issues residents feel are most pressing.

The details

The proposed 3% lodging tax increase would have funded the renovation and expansion of the existing Springfield Expo Center into a larger convention facility. This time, the measure included a 35-year sunset clause, but it still failed to gain majority support from voters. City Manager David Cameron says the $30 million in state matching funds for the project will now be allocated by the Citizens Advisory Board to address other community needs.

  • The measure was rejected in Tuesday's April 8, 2026 election.
  • A similar ballot question failed in the November 2025 election, with 52.55% of voters opposed.

The players

David Cameron

The Springfield City Manager who says the convention center proposal will not return to the ballot, and the city will instead focus on other community priorities identified by residents.

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What they’re saying

“No, we will not be doing it again. Without the 3%, that covers $145 million of the $175 [million]. So there is no funding mechanism other than this opportunity. So it would not be coming back up.”

— David Cameron, City Manager

“What I learned in the listening sessions is there are other issues that the community has shared with me that's just as important, that they feel need to be addressed. It's like we can do both projects, but we hear what you're saying, there's more to Springfield than just one big project. And we need to be focused on crime. We need to be talking about homelessness, public safety, animal control, stormwater, streets, things that matter to a resident every single day, versus a big project.”

— David Cameron, City Manager

What’s next

The $30 million in state matching funds for the convention center project will now be allocated by the Citizens Advisory Board to address other community priorities identified by Springfield residents.

The takeaway

This case highlights how a community's priorities can shift away from major development projects and towards more immediate concerns like public safety, homelessness, and infrastructure. Springfield's voters have now twice rejected a lodging tax increase to fund a convention center, signaling a desire for the city to focus on addressing the issues that residents feel are most pressing.