Lyon County’s sales tax issue has a House Bill number, marking forward progress on the sales tax that was negated last fall after voters passed it.
Lyon County commissioners talked about the bill during this morning’s Lyon County Commission meeting. On Aug. 5, voters in Lyon County approved a county-wide 1 percent sales tax, which was set to begin collection on Oct. 1, 2008.
Despite overwhelming voter approval, the sales tax was negated by the state shortly after its passage by voters. Lyon County learned from the Department of Revenue that the tax could not be collected because it exceeds the one 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 one percent cap or ask for special legislation to gain permission to collect more than the one percent tax.
The county already has a half-percent sales tax in effect. HB2026 states that the county may fix the rate at 1.5 percent. According to the Kansas Legislature’s Web site, the House Bill was introduced on Jan. 15 and referred to committee on Jan. 16. For full text of the bill, go to http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2010/2026.pdf.
Commissioners also talked about sign vandalism, which is a continuing problem in Lyon County. County Engineer Chip Woods said a sign at Road 170 and Road P had to be repaired three times last week.
“It’s just mind boggling,” Woods said.
Woods said there’s a lot of vandalism in a five-mile radius around Emporia and it’s not just stop signs.
“Some of the ones they have stolen is the do no pass and pass with care signs,” Woods said as he shook his head.
Woods also talked about a revised agreement for the economic development project at Highway 50 and Road F in front of the PrairieLand Partners building. The project is for acceleration and deceleration lanes in front of the Deere Trail implement dealership. The Kansas Department of Transportation has changed the requirements for the project and a supplemental agreement needs to be signed.
In other business:
• Commissioners discussed a letter of support for Hetlinger Developmental Services Inc. in support of Hetlinger in their application to receive funds from the Kansas Department of Transportation to assist with their transportation budget for FY 2010. Chairman Scott Briggs will sign the letter during Thursday’s action session.
• Richard Old, Lyon County undersheriff asked for commission approval to replace seven vehicles in the Sheriff’s Office for 2009 as part of the fleet management program. The department trades off their vehicles every 50,000 to 60,000 miles to maintain a healthy trade-in balance on new vehicles, Old said.
“Ten or 15 years ago, the Kansas highway patrol did a very through study on what was the cheapest way to buy and operate a fleet of patrol vehicles,” Old said. “They found that the cheapest way to operate these pursuit vehicles is to buy them new, run them for 50,000 miles and then sell them.”
The item will be voted on tomorrow.