Overland Park residents will vote on a new 1/4-cent sales tax for parks in a special mail-in election set for March 2, 2027.

The Overland Park City Council approved the measure 9-3 during a Committee of the Whole meeting Monday, Oct. 5, ending debate over how much to ask voters for, as first reported by the Johnson County Post. The tax would raise an estimated $176 million over 10 years, earmarked exclusively for parks, trails and recreation.

That money would go toward closing a nearly $250 million gap identified in Playbook OP, the city's 10-year parks and recreation master plan the council approved Sept. 28.

Three councilmembers voted no: Andrew Payne, Christopher Newlin and Josh Beck. The nine yes votes came from Councilmembers Logan Heley, Holly Grummert, Council President Melissa Cheatham, Drew Mitrisin, Richard Borlaza, Amy Scrivner, Gregg Riess, Amy Antrim and Inas Younis, according to city meeting records.

The council had weighed three competing rates. A 1/8-cent tax would have generated roughly $88 million over a decade. A 3/8-cent tax would have brought in about $264 million, enough to cover the full Playbook OP wish list, according to the Kansas City Star. The 1/4-cent option split the difference, covering maintenance and about half of the plan's new projects.

Mayor Curt Skoog favored the smaller 1/8-cent option. He said the tax would make a "significant impact" on Playbook OP and "demonstrate our continued ability to deliver for our community."

Councilmember Logan Heley pushed for the larger 3/8-cent rate, saying the council had delayed the decision too long. The 1/4-cent rate prevailed after a series of motions and amendments.

"I think it would be irresponsible, frankly, to stick with the 1/8-cent when we really are underfunding our parks and rec pretty significantly right now," Heley said.

Councilmember Christopher Newlin, one of the three no votes, said the economic climate made any new tax a bad idea. Councilmember Payne told the Johnson County Post in a text message that he was "skeptical" about a new tax and leaned toward the 1/8-cent option.

Overland Park currently funds most parks and recreation spending from its general fund, which draws on property taxes and regular city sales taxes. The proposed dedicated tax would work like the existing 3/8-cent OP Moves infrastructure sales tax, with revenue locked to parks and unable to be diverted elsewhere. The new tax would add 25 cents on a $100 purchase

Registered voters in city limits will receive mail-in ballots in February 2027 and must return them by March 2, 2027. If voters approve the tax, it would take effect Oct. 1, 2027, and sunset in 2037 unless renewed.

Other Johnson County cities already levy parks sales taxes. Olathe has had a 1/8-cent parks tax since 1999, renewed in 2023 with nearly 78% support. Shawnee's 1/8-cent "Parks and Pipes" tax was renewed the same year with about 75% in favor. Lenexa extended its 3/8-cent sales tax covering parks and recreation for 20 years in April 2026 with almost 80% support.

The council is scheduled to consider the election ordinance and final ballot language at its Monday, Nov. 2 meeting, with a deadline of Monday, Nov. 16 to finalize the terms.