The $28 million of General Obligation Bonds are required to fund the cost of engineering and constructing the recreation center with indoor aquatics. The half-cent park sales tax is required to help pay for the annual operating costs of a recreation center with indoor aquatics and will also be used to repay debt on an additional $3 million of capital costs

The General Obligation Bonds will require Kearney residents to pay $0.52 per $100 of assessed valuation on property, called a property tax levy.  Additionally, the half-cent park sales tax on retail sales in Kearney will also be used to help repay the General Obligation Bonds.

To understand how a property tax levy would impact you, please see the table below. 

General Obligation Bonds are a form of debt financing secured by property tax revenues and must be specifically authorized by voters. General obligation bonds can be issued for general purpose projects. Cities in Missouri are authorized to issue general obligation bonds pursuant to Article VI, Section 26(b), (c), (d) and (e) of the Missouri Constitution and Sections 95.115 to 95.130, RSMo.

Missouri state law requires General Obligation Bonds  to receive a 4/7 super majority of yes votes, or 57.14%, to be approved at a general municipal election.

If Kearney Question 1 receives at least 57.14% of the yes vote and Kearney Question 2 does not receive at least 50.01% of the yes vote, a recreation center with indoor aquatics will not be built in Kearney. 

The total capital costs of this project are projected at $31 million.  General Obligation Bonds are required to fund the bulk ($28 million) of the cost of engineering and constructing the recreation center with indoor aquatics.

The $28 million of General Obligation Bonds will be repaid by Kearney residents paying a $0.52 per $100 of assessed valuation on property, called a property tax levy.  

To understand how a property tax levy would impact you, please see the table below.

A half-cent park sales tax is required to help pay for annual operating costs of a recreation center with indoor aquatics and will also be used to help repay debt on the additional $3 million of capital costs.

The cost of a half-cent sales tax is equal to one-half cent on every $1 spent. On a $10 purchase, it is an additional 5 cents. On a $100 purchase, it is an additional 50 cents. On a $200 purchase, it is an additional $1. 

Missouri state law requires that a sales tax receive a simple majority of yes votes, or 50.01%, to be approved at a general municipal election.

City leaders listened to the feedback received from the Kearney community.  

The proposal that voters will consider on April 2, 2024  was the result of a community engagement process that began in April of 2023.  During this process, the community was invited to share their needs and their level of support for a swimming facility in Kearney, through online surveys and community meetings.  

Through the process, the community ultimately indicated their preference for a dry recreation component in addition to swimming, with features and programs that will allow residents from age 1 to 100 opportunities for fitness, recreation and building a stronger sense of community through a community gathering space that is available year round.

You can find out more about the community engagement process by clicking this link.

The recreation center with indoor aquatics will be built at the southwest corner of 19^th Street and Jefferson Street (Missouri State Route 33) on the 11 acre parcel that is owned by the city of Kearney.

If both ballot measures pass, engineering for the recreation center with indoor aquatics would begin in summer of 2024.   Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2025 and be completed at the end of 2026.

Dry Side

• Gymnasium
  Includes 1 high school basketball court / 2, cross-directional middle school sized courts with opportunities for additional striping
• Elevated track
  A 350’ long (1/15 of a mile), 3-lane track surrounds the gymnasium to be utilized for walking and running
• Fitness floor – 3,794 s.f.
  Provides equipment and space for cardio and weight equipment, serving approximately 75 people (similar in size to the Excelsior Springs Community Center fitness floor)
• Group exercise studio – 1,600 s.f.
  A separate space meant for structured fitness classes lead by an instructor, serving approximately 26 people in a fitness class setting

Pool Side

• Competition lap pool: 3,600 s.f.
• Therapy pool: 210 s.f.
• Depth: Approx. 0’0” – 12’0
• Shallow-water leisure area with zero-depth entry
• 6, 25-yard lap lanes
• 2, 1-meter diving boards
• Starting blocks
• Therapy pool with in-water bench

Kearney residents will receive a 25% discounted rate on annual membership passes and a 50% discounted rate on daily passes. Below are proposed fee schedules.