ONE week until the primary election, and the political rhetoric from the candidates is getting louder. Unfortunately all the campaign messages seem similar, and we question whether any of the candidates can make a difference.
But there is one important question on the ballot that will make a difference, and voters need to vote yes for it. It is the continuation of Emporia’s 1/2-cent sales tax. Don’t let the word “tax” scare you because the continuation of this tax is absolutely critical.
Our community needs jobs; we need better jobs, and we need more jobs. The money that is received from this tax funds our community’s economic development program, which seeks out new companies to come to town and works with existing companies to expand. It has been amazingly successful over the last 16 years, and it would be scary to think about what our community would look like if this organization did not exist.
The 1/2-cent sales tax started almost two decades ago when the community lost the bid to have a Cessna plant built in Emporia. After that initiative, the community realized it needed an economic development program to make Emporia and Lyon County competitive with other communities. The community rallied to put this program together, and the issue passed with 78-percent approval from voters.
The tax not only funds economic development, but it also funds property tax relief. So every property owner in Emporia benefits. We have high taxes, and having assistance on our property taxes is important.
If this issue does not pass, we need to ask, “Does every property owner in the city of Emporia really want to pay 30 percent more in property taxes?”
It’s important for voters to get their questions answered about this issue, and this week, they will have plenty of opportunities.
The first opportunity will be on KVOE Wednesday at 10 a.m. when Steve Sauder will be talking with RDA Executive Director Kent Heermann about the impact the Regional Development Association has had on our community. People are free to call in their questions.
Another opportunity will be with The Gazette, which will host an online chat with Heermann at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Heermann will be answering reader questions, so please submit them now at http://www.emporiagazette.com/chats or e-mail to newsroom@emporiagazette.com.
The Emporia Gazette supports this issue 110 percent, and we want you to, also. Take time this week and get informed on this issue.
For our community to grow and prosper, we need economic development. So vote “yes” Aug. 3 for the continuation of the 1/2-cent sales tax.
Chris Walker
Editor & Publisher