Figures have evolved with updates (e.g., from $12.2M to $14M+), and exact final accounting depends on closing documents, interest costs, and actual revenues.

 Approximately $12.2–14+ million in direct city (taxpayer) investment since the 2023 purchase, structured for partial/long-term recovery via hotel-specific revenues rather than a traditional upfront grant or broad TIF/STAR bond subsidy.

Here is the breakdown of the key numbers based on official city announcements, news reports, council actions, and Topeka Development Corporation (TDC) discussions (primarily 2023–2026):

1. Purchase (2023)

• City of Topeka won the auction for the existing Hotel Topeka (at 1717 SW Topeka Blvd / City Center) in October 2023.
• Winning bid: ~$7.6 million (commonly reported; one source cites $8,573,600 including costs/fees). The property had a 2023 appraisal around $3 million, so the city paid a premium.
• Funded via bonds or city resources; purchase authorized by governing body (7-2 vote) to support tourism, conventions, and economic development after the hotel went to auction.

2. Total City Investment/Spending to Date

• By July 2025 (official city announcement): $12.2 million total spent on Hotel Topeka (purchase + operations support, capital improvements, legal/fees, interest on temporary notes, etc.).
• By December 2025: Reports of ~$14 million invested (including improvements and operations).
• Additional context: ~$1.2 million supplementing operations in 2024 alone; further ~$1 million+ in one reported period. One 2025 reference mentioned $17.7 million spent so far (possibly including projections, interest, or broader accounting). Earlier 2025 council actions added incremental funding (e.g., $291k bringing a running total to ~$11.53 million).
• These funds came from city resources (general funds, bonding capacity, possibly TGT allocations), representing the core direct taxpayer outlay/subsidy for acquiring and propping up a distressed asset.

3. Sale/Recoupment Structure with Endeavor Hotel Group (2025–2026 Deal)

• Sale to Wichita-based Endeavor Hotel Group (which plans ~$6M rehab + $2M ops support; rebrand/reposition, possibly as Hilton DoubleTree or similar/Wyndham-related).
• $1 million cash payment from buyer.
• Remaining balance of city’s investment (~$11.2 million from the $12.2M baseline, or adjusted higher with later totals) to be recouped over ~17–20+ years via:
  • Community Improvement District (CID): 2% additional retail sales tax on sales at the hotel property (approved by City Council, e.g., 8-2 vote). Dedicated to recouping city costs.
  • Incremental/special Transient Guest Tax (TGT/bed tax): Captured incremental or dedicated TGT revenues from hotel guests (city council actions approved mechanisms; city-wide TGT also adjusted/increased, with portions tied to this). Earlier projections: redeveloped hotel could generate ~$440k+ annual TGT and ~$1M sales tax.
• Official city framing (July 2025): Taxes collected only from hotel guests/spending; structured so the city recoups its investment as the hotel succeeds under private operation. Projections (e.g., RevPAR models) showed payback in 17 years for ~$9.8M or 19 years for ~$11.3M under strong performance assumptions.
• Related county commitment: Shawnee County to provide long-term management of Maner Conference Center + invest ~$6 million in its rehab to match hotel upgrades.

This is more of a self-liquidating/public investment recovery via dedicated property revenues than an outright permanent subsidy. General taxpayers bear interim carrying costs (interest, opportunity cost, risk of underperformance/shortfall).

4. Additional Incentives Discussed (~$15 Million Scale)

• During bid/offer processes (e.g., late 2024–2025), documents and reports referenced the City offering developers a $15 million economic development grant + a 20-year property tax increment (TIF-like mechanism to capture increased property taxes from improvements).
• TIF discussions occurred in TDC meetings for potentially capturing increments to help reimburse purchase price + improvements (TIF can apply to purchase price and exterior/public improvements under Kansas law; CID handles on-site sales tax). A full TIF district for Hotel Topeka was considered but the executed structure emphasized CID + TGT.
• The $15M figure likely represented the total contemplated incentive/support package value (grant equivalent + tax increment financing benefits) to attract private investment/rehab, in addition to or encompassing the low effective sale price and recoupment tools. It was not always framed as new cash on top of the $12M+ sunk costs in later official sale announcements.

Summary of Taxpayer Subsidy

• Direct/public funds committed: ~$12.2–14 million+ (purchase + ongoing costs through 2025–2026). This is the clearest “subsidized” amount—taxpayer dollars used to buy and sustain the hotel.
• No major pre-2023 TIF/STAR/CID subsidies identified specifically for this hotel’s original development (city acquired an existing asset at auction).
• Recovery mechanism: Mostly from hotel guests and on-site spending (CID sales tax + TGT increment), not ongoing general taxpayer levies. Full recoupment projected in 17–20+ years if performance targets are met; risk remains with the city/taxpayers.
• Incentive context: Up to ~$15 million scale in grant/TIF-style support discussed in deal structuring to enable private redevelopment.
• Broader context: Aimed at tourism/convention economic impact (~$20 million annual visitor spending projected if redeveloped successfully). Critics (including local advocates) highlight the premium purchase price, total outlay, carrying costs, and questions about net return vs. alternatives.

Figures have evolved with updates (e.g., from $12.2M to $14M+), and exact final accounting depends on closing documents, interest costs, and actual revenues. Official sources like topeka.gov and TDC materials provide the baseline; local reporting (WIBW, KSNT, CJOnline) tracks the debate. For the absolute latest post-June 2026 closing details, check city council/TDC minutes or recent financial reports, as the deal was progressing toward a mid-2026 handover.

This aligns with common Topeka economic development tools (CID, TGT increment, limited TIF discussions) but stands out due to the city’s direct ownership and large front-loaded investment in an existing property.