Lyon County’s sales-tax issue in the Kansas Legislature will be heard by the House next week. The bill , introduced Jan. 15 is in committee but has a hearing in the full House at 9 a.m. Jan. 29. Lyon County commissioners talked about the bill during Wednesday’s Lyon County Commission meeting.
On Aug. 5, voters in Lyon County approved a county-wide 1 percent sales tax, which the county was to begin 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.
House Bill 2026 states that the county may fix the rate at 1.5 percent. 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 not 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 U.S. Highway 50 and Road F in front of the Prairie Land Partners building. The project is for acceleration and deceleration lanes in front of the Deer Trail implement dealership. The Kansas Department of Transportation has changed the requirements for the project and a supplemental agreement must be signed.
In other business:
F Commissioners discussed a letter of support for Hetlinger Developmental Services in support of Hetlinger in it’s application to receive funds from the Kansas Department of Transportation to assist with the transportation budget for FY 2010. Chairman Scott Briggs was to the letter during today’s action session.
F 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 it’s vehicles every 50,000 to 60,000 miles to maintain a healthy trade-in balance on new vehicles, Old said.