Benefit Districts

Benefit Districts are a financing and development tool whereby cities can issue general obligation bonds for construction of public improvements and assess the cost to properties that benefit. The bonds are then retired through payment of special assessments by these benefiting properties.

Benefit Districts are used by the city to assist in development of arterial roadways (usually associated with section line roads), water lines and sanitary sewers. It is the most responsible and fair method available to cities in Kansas to pay for the roads and infrastructure associated with new development. The method is designed to prevent established residents from paying for new roads in the city. Many citizens voice a message that new development must pay for itself. Benefit Districts are a tool used by almost every city in Johnson County and a majority of cities within the state of Kansas to ensure that the costs of new development are attributed to the development itself rather than the city as a whole.

With the number of roadway, sanitary sewers and water line improvements all over the city, if the city did not utilize benefit districts, either the improvements would not be made or the city’s property taxes would be higher. Developers have the option to build the improvements in front of their land to meet city specifications, but in so doing, a hodge-podge of improvements would occur, and the improvements could be under construction at different times and cause much more disruption than the orderly process afforded by the creation and administration of Benefit Districts.

Benefit District Petition & Instruction Sheet

Benefit Districts vs Excise Tax

Financing of Public Improvements - Benefit Districts

Map

Benefit Districts Interactive Map

Temporary Note and General Obligation Bond Process

Benefit District Property Lookup - Search all the properties in Olathe by Parcel Number, Address or Land Use and find out what, if any, Benefit District assessments are on that property. Information available includes an account summary of the property, a payment schedule and payoff quote information.