Sales Tax will go on ballot
By Brandy Nance
Originally published 01:36 p.m., May 16, 2008
Updated 01:36 p.m., May 16, 2008
It’s now up to the voters of Lyon County whether a 1 percent sales tax is implemented. The county commission approved the tax in a 3-0 vote at Thursday’s meeting.
The vote came following a 30-minute public hearing, where members of the public voiced their opinions and concerns.
If approved by the voters in the August election, the sales tax will be collected by the State of Kansas and will be distributed at a rate of 54 percent to Emporia; 41 percent to Lyon County and five percent to smaller communities in Lyon County. The resolution the county commission passed Thursday says specifically the county will use the money to lower property taxes. Anything above and beyond property tax lowering will be funneled into the county’s capital outlay fund, where many of the county’s large purchases come from.
Lyon County resident Chuck Hanna spoke first during the public hearing.
“As far as I know, nobody wants more taxes, but they want the services,” Hanna said. “I think the appeal on tax is the fact that a third of the revenues from sales tax won’t be paid by the citizens of Emporia. ...”
Hanna said many people have an aversion to property taxes.
“That is basically a regressive tax that does not respond to inflation like sales tax does,” he said. “... If we can find a more responsive tax base then I’m all for it. As long as most of the money is used to help reduce property taxes and hold them at a level rate.”
Real estate broker K.B. Thomas said when he first heard about the sales tax he thought it was a good way to reduce property tax.
“The thing that I’m concerned about is how this money is going to be used and what effect it will have on new shopping centers near the turnpike,” Thomas said.
Thomas proposed building a visitor’s center near the turnpike to attract people to the area’s historical sites. He estimated that millions of people head down the turnpike every year.
“Clean rest rooms and ice cream makes people want to stop,” he said. “I think we ought to be creative enough to get some of these 10 million people off the highway. ...”
Former Lyon County Commissioner Myron VanGundy said he supports the sales tax.
“I’m in favor of this sales tax venture to reduce property tax because we know that because of fuel costs and different things that the levy is going to have to go up some,” VanGundy said. “I know nobody wants to pay more tax, but I do think there’s some areas that we’ll recover some. ...”
Lyon County Commission Vice-Chairman Marshal Miller said the county-wide tax will benefit smaller communities.
“You know Americus needs help with their swimming pool,” Miller said. “Hartford is looking at a sales tax. ...”
Miller said some people have the perception that a sales tax increase will drive people to shop in other counties. However, with energy costs rising, he said they won’t save much by spending the gas to drive to other locations such as Topeka.
“The energy cost up there is going to be unforgivable,” he said.
Commission Chairman Scott Briggs made the motion to place the sales tax question on the Aug. 5 ballot. Davis seconded the motion. It passed 3-0.
“We will now take direction from the voters,” Briggs said.