The Wichita City Council voted down a proposal on Tuesday to change its funding agreement with the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition. The vote was in response to actions by the Sedgwick County Commission.
Last week, county commissioners discussed a plan to change their funding agreement with the GWEDC, the Sedgwick County Zoo and Exploration Place. The organizations are currently funded in five-year blocks, but some commissioners favor year-to-year agreements to protect against future budget shortfalls.
A decision by the county has been put on hold until September, but the City of Wichita, which also helps finance the GWEDC, will continue to fund the organization until 2018, when the current five-year agreement expires.
Council member James Clendenin says the burden on taxpayers is minimal.
“Seventy-nine cents per household is what we spend on this agreement in Sedgwick County. I’ve got 79 cents in my pocket, I plan to go to QuikTrip and get a big gulp,” Clendenin said.
An amendment to the city’s funding agreement was voted down 6-1, with Pete Meitzner as the lone member in favor.
Those council members that voted against the proposed change said the city should honor its initial agreement.
