Lyon County’s new sales tax is a step closer to legislative approval.
Emporia Sen. Jim Barnett said this morning that House Bill 2026 passed out of the Senate’s tax committee unanimously. The next step is consideration by the full Senate, which should happen Thursday.
On Aug. 5, voters in Lyon County approved a county-wide 1 percent sales tax, which the county was to begin collecting Oct. 1.
Despite overwhelming voter approval, the sales tax was negated by the state shortly after its passage by voters. The county already has a 1/2 percent sales tax in effect. Lyon County learned from the Department of Revenue that the tax could not be collected because it exceeds the 1 percent sales tax cap for the county.
The county had two options to deal with the sales tax: re-voting the tax to stay within the 1 percent cap or asking for special legislation to gain permission to collect more than the 1 percent cap.
The bill gives Lyon County legislative approval to have a 1.5 percent sales tax. It passed through the Kansas House last Thursday and headed to the Senate.
During the Senate committee hearing today, Barnett said, local officials testified.
“Marc Goodman and Mark McAnarney came up,” Barnett said, “and Commissioner Scott Briggs testified.”
Goodman is the county counselor, and McAnarney is Emporia’s assistant city manager. Both Lyon County and the city of Emporia built budgets based on additional revenue generated by the sales tax.
Barnett said he already has asked Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ office to sign the bill quickly when it is passed.