Overland Park Sets Parks Sales Tax Vote

The City Council has scheduled a mail-in ballot election on a proposed 1/4-cent parks and recreation sales tax for March 2, 2027.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in City Hall

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of stacked tree-canopy shapes and a playground slide in deep teal and cream, representing a city parks funding decision. — Overland Park's City Council voted Monday to put a 1/4-cent parks and recreation sales tax to a mail-in ballot on March 2, 2027. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should Overland Park voters approve a 1/4-cent sales tax for parks and recreation?

The Overland Park City Council voted Monday night to hold a mail-in ballot election on a proposed 1/4-cent parks and recreation sales tax on March 2, 2027. If approved, the 10-year tax would take effect October 1, 2027.

Why it matters

The proposed tax follows the city's long-range parks plan, Playbook OP, approved by the City Council this summer, which recommended a dedicated funding source for parks and recreation. Residents of Overland Park would decide whether to fund the plan through the vote.

The proposed tax is a 1/4-cent sales tax, and the City Council's vote sets a mail-in ballot election for March 2, 2027. Projected revenue of up to $176 million over 10 years depends on voter approval, which has not yet occurred.

The players

Overland Park City Council

The elected governing body of Overland Park, Kansas, which voted to place the parks sales tax before voters.

The details

The City Council voted Monday night to hold the mail-in election on the sales tax, with revenue allocated across four parks and recreation project categories. The measure would fund the recommendations of Playbook OP, the city's long-range parks and recreation plan.

Summer 2026: City Council approves Playbook OP long-range parks plan.
Monday, November 2, 2026: City Council votes to hold the mail-in tax election.
March 2, 2027: Mail-in ballot election on the parks sales tax.
October 1, 2027: Proposed 10-year parks sales tax would take effect if approved.

City Hall Context

The election follows the City Council's summer approval of Playbook OP, which recommended a dedicated parks and recreation sales tax as the city's funding path. The vote marks the next step in turning that long-range plan into a funded program.

If voters approve the 1/4-cent tax, sales purchases in Overland Park would carry a higher rate starting October 1, 2027, with the revenue dedicated to parks and recreation. The outcome depends entirely on the March 2, 2027 vote.

The takeaway

A dedicated sales tax would tie parks funding directly to the city's long-range plan rather than the general budget. Residents who want to weigh in should watch for the March 2, 2027 mail-in ballot.

What happens next

The mail-in ballot election on the parks and recreation sales tax is scheduled for March 2, 2027, and, if approved, the tax would take effect October 1, 2027.