Ballot Measure Engagement

On April 7, 2026, City of Springfield voters will consider increasing the local lodging tax by 3 percent. This tax is generally paid by visitors staying in hotels, motels, tourist courts, and short-term rentals for less than 30 days. The current 5% percent lodging tax generates approximately $7 million annually. The increase is expected to generate an additional $4.4 million annually.

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Official Ballot Language: Shall the City of Springfield, Missouri, impose an additional three percent (3%) license tax on the business of renting, leasing, or letting living quarters, sleeping accommodations, rooms, or a part thereof, in connection with any hotel, motel, tourist court, or short-term rental, derived from or paid by transient guests for sleeping accommodations, for the purpose of attracting travel and tourism, including the construction, operation, and maintenance of a regional convention and events center? The additional three percent (3%) license tax shall automatically expire after a period of thirty-five (35) years.

Revenue will fund travel and tourism attraction efforts and the construction of a 125,000-square-foot regional convention and event center. Allocations for the current 5% lodging tax would remain at the following level:

• 47% for tourism and marketing efforts, administered by Visit Springfield, Missouri;
• 44% for debt service on bonds related to Jordan Valley Creek (expected to retire in 2028 and be reallocated toward the convention and event center);
• 5% for cultural tourism through the Springfield Regional Arts Council;
• 5% for sporting-event attraction through the Springfield Area Sports Commission.

Springfield’s lodging tax was established in 1979 and last increased to the current 5% in 2004.

Springfield is currently missing out on large event opportunities, impacting our sales tax collections and tourism opportunities. This lodging tax increase is needed to support the construction of the convention and events center to help address these current gaps.

Conversations around creating a large-scale convention and events center have occurred for many years. Since 2006, Hunden Partners has completed four market and financial feasibility studies for the City of Springfield, each identifying opportunities for an enhanced meeting, convention and hotel package.

The latest Hunden report in July 2025 notes stagnation and an underperforming Expo Center while highlighting that regional competitors have invested in modern facilities.

This report recommends developing a 125,000-square-foot multi-use convention and event center and a 400-room connected headquarters hotel as part of a walkable 1,000-room package. This type of event facility, not including the hotel, is anticipated to cost $175 million.

Our region is estimated to lose $125,114 per day in missed convention and events-related revenue. The construction of this facility would help leverage larger events, stimulate demand, identify Springfield as a tourism destination, position Springfield competitively with other peer markets, and encourage increased economic and cultural activity.

After four years, the facility is projected to host 164 events annually, generate 80,000 hotel room nights, and deliver $1.35 billion in spending and $68.7 million in tax revenue over 30 years.

The City of Springfield and Visit Springfield anticipate this facility would host major conferences, trade shows, concerts and sports events; support local events like job fairs, graduations and expos; serve as a hub for tourism-related economic activity; and serve as a catalyst for revitalization in the surrounding site area.

The 3% tax increase will sunset after 35 years. The City of Springfield also anticipates using the “Completed as Promised” model to provide taxpayer accountability. This approach of engagement and communication has been successful in tax renewals with more than 80 percent voter support and in extending or eliminating sunsets. The Springfield Citizens’ Tax Oversight Committee, which oversees multiple voter-approved taxes, also meets quarterly to review revenues and spending, reporting findings to City Council twice a year.

As an opportunity to support the construction of a convention and events center, the Chamber board believes this lodging tax will help spur economic development, support regional economic vitality, enhance quality of life for residents, and ensure Springfield and the region are destinations for tourism. Creating opportunities to bring events, conferences, sporting events and more to this area further supports existing businesses, which will certainly benefit from the economic impact of increased visitors. Furthermore, additional visitors to the Springfield region would increase sales tax revenue, providing greater opportunities to invest in quality of life assets like parks, housing, infrastructure, and more.

The Chamber has previously supported Springfield lodging tax increases using the same thorough member-driven review process. The Chamber has also been a long proponent of constructing a convention and events center to support regional tourism opportunities.

You can view the full press release regarding this endorsement here.

The 3% lodging tax proposal on the November ballot failed by just under 400 votes with 7% voter turnout. Following this election, the City of Springfield identified several intentional opportunities to collect feedback from voters and address questions and concerns with the proposal.

The city shared a citizen input survey and hosted several listening sessions on the convention and events center project. Through these engagement efforts, the city identified the need to provide clearer information about the project and anticipated benefits to the community. Ultimately, the city determined this proposal could be put back on the ballot with increased education efforts.

Placing this measure on the April ballot also allows for the possible release of the $30 million in restricted state funding. It is crucial to illustrate community support for this convention and events center to encourage the release of state funds. It is very unlikely Springfield would access this funding if the lodging tax increase was placed on the ballot after the end of the fiscal year (June 30, 2026).

If approved, Springfield’s total lodging tax rate (16.1%) would be in line with peer and competitor markets in the region, making us more competitive for large events.

The 3% lodging tax increase would play a large role in the overall financing plan for the convention and event center. The anticipated financing for the project is as follows:

• $175 million event center project financed by $30 million FY26 state appropriation and $145 million long-term financing structure for 30 years.
  1. $30 million local match from ½-cent Spring Forward sales tax in FY2026 (approved by Springfield City Council in August 2025);
  2. New 3% hotel/motel tax on November 2025 ballot;
  3. Reallocation of city’s existing hotel/motel tax currently funding Jordan Valley Creek debt obligations, totaling $3.3 million annually and available in FY28.

The city is also exploring other revenue tools such as Transportation Development Districts and Tax Increment Financing to provide additional funding.

You can view and download several digital resources through the "Digital Resources" section of the page. You can also visit the following links for additional information:

• Visit Springfield Education Page
• City of Springfield Education Page

If you would like to get involved in the effort to support this measure, please reach out to Lauren Shantz at lshantz@springfieldchamber.com.