Wichita city leaders are facing scrutiny over an $8 million investment in “strategic communications” as a proposed $850 million spending plan, championed by a group of local CEOs, advances toward a public vote. The disconnect between the city’s efforts to engage residents and the decision to prioritize the CEOs’ proposal has sparked questions about transparency and responsiveness in local government. The special election on the sales tax increase is scheduled for Tuesday.
At the heart of the debate is a 1% sales tax increase proposed by Thrive Restaurant Group CEO Jon Rolph, along with fellow business leaders Ulrich Schraemle and Jeff Fluhr. The plan aims to fund a wide range of projects, totaling $850 million, including a modern performing arts center and convention center upgrades. Yet, critics point to a lack of detailed data supporting the plan and a limited 500-person survey as insufficient justification for such a substantial investment. Rolph’s Thrive Restaurant Group operates over 200 restaurants, including Applebee’s, Carlos O’Kelly’s, HomeGrown, Modern Market and Qdoba, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Meanwhile, the city of Wichita has spent approximately $8 million over the past decade on its “strategic communications” department, tasked with building public trust and awareness. This department has launched and then abandoned three separate social media platforms – Activate Wichita, Wichita.Forum.Gov, and an annual community survey conducted by the firm POLCO – all intended to provide avenues for citizen input. Despite these efforts, the City Council appears to have largely bypassed these established channels in favor of the proposal presented by the three CEOs.
A History of Unfulfilled Promises
The city’s first attempt at online engagement, “Activate Wichita,” launched in 2013 under then-Mayor Carl Brewer, was touted as an online forum to shape the city’s future. However, it quickly faded from leverage. The subsequent platform, Wichita.Forum.Gov, rolled out in March 2022, was similarly presented as a way to improve public engagement, with then-City Manager Robert Layton emphasizing the need to “do a better job of reaching out to residents and speaking with them and hearing their concerns.” But this platform also met a quiet end, disappearing from the city’s website shortly after its launch.
The city then turned to an annual community survey conducted by POLCO, costing $35,000 per year. While intended to gauge public opinion, the results of this survey were notably absent from the City Council’s discussions regarding the proposed sales tax increase. This omission has fueled criticism that the council is not genuinely listening to the voices of its constituents.
Declining Public Trust
The latest POLCO survey results reveal a concerning trend: overall confidence in Wichita government has dropped from 45% in 2018 to 33% in 2024. This decline coincides with the city’s investment in strategic communications, raising questions about the effectiveness of these efforts. The survey also indicated that public safety and homelessness were top priorities for residents, issues not prominently addressed in the proposed $850 million spending plan, which allocates $325 million to a new performing arts center and convention center upgrades.
The perceived disregard for existing communication channels and public opinion has led to frustration among some residents. Newly elected Council member Joseph Shepard has called for town hall meetings to provide a platform for public input, a move some see as a belated attempt to address the lack of engagement. However, critics argue that town halls, while valuable, are a less accessible and efficient means of gathering feedback compared to the city’s existing online platforms.
A Question of Priorities
The situation has prompted a broader discussion about the city’s priorities and its commitment to transparency. Critics argue that the council’s willingness to quickly embrace the CEOs’ proposal, while seemingly ignoring the data collected through its own communication channels, demonstrates a disconnect between the government and the people it serves. The imagery of citizens being asked to plead their case in public forums, as described by Dale Goter, a media consultant and former Wichita lobbyist, has been characterized as “disturbingly medieval.”
What’s Next for Wichita?
With the special election on the sales tax increase rapidly approaching, the future of the proposed $850 million spending plan remains uncertain. The outcome of the vote will likely serve as a referendum on the City Council’s approach to public engagement and its responsiveness to the concerns of its constituents. Regardless of the result, the current situation highlights the importance of fostering trust and transparency in local government. The next City Council meeting is scheduled for March 5th, where the results of the election will likely be discussed.
This story is developing, and time.news will continue to provide updates as they become available. Share your thoughts on this issue in the comments below.
