City commissioners are looking to keep an expiring sales tax and redirect the money primarily to fire and police equipment instead.
The city for 20 years has charged a 0.5% sales tax to pay off debt from building the Community Center and pool. That debt will be paid off this year, but the city is considering continuing the tax to support public safety. It would require a citywide vote to swap the expiring tax for the new one.
Commissioners voiced general approval Monday to the idea.
City Manager Zack Daniel told commissioners the goal for the city in next year’s budget is to support increased fire department staffing (read more about that in this story) without having to raise the mill levy.
Redirecting this sales tax would help, he said, by allowing the city to continue using that money, while residents would pay the same sales tax amount they have in the past.
The city collects 1.75% of the 9.5% total sales tax in town. The majority of sales tax in town goes to the state. Of the city’s portion, 0.5% goes to the general fund and 0.75% goes to Parks and Recreation. If voters were to approve this redirection of the sales tax, the final 0.5% would go to public safety expenses.
In recent years, that 0.5% tax has generated about $340,000 and is estimated to continue increasing to $400,000 in the next few years.
Public Safety currently does not have its own funding stream, Daniel said.
Also of note in the discussion was a bill making its way through the Kansas Legislature that would cap the amount of property taxes the city can collect, even with rising valuation of homes. If it were to pass, that could stunt the city’s budget in future years, Daniel said.
If the city moves ahead with the sales tax change, it would likely be on the ballot in November.
Commissioners agreed they wanted the tax to be permanent if possible. They also wanted it to not be strictly limited to public safety, but it would have an emphasis on police and fire expenses. That is similar to how the Parks and Recreation sales tax is set up.
Commissioner Roberta Lehmann asked if the state or county may raise their sales taxes. Daniel said he hadn’t heard about increases.
City commissioners also on Monday approved commissioning a study as a first step toward major renovations on Church Street.
The city will pay JEO Consulting Group $89,300 to collect data on topography and complete a traffic study.
The city plans to use a $21 million federal BUILD grant to widen Church Street to three lanes with a dedicated center turn lane, add roundabouts, realign 20th Street and improve infrastructure.
Funds to pay for the studies were originally planned to come from the grant, but because federal review is ongoing, city staff are asking the commission to approve paying the consultants out of the city budget to avoid delays. Daniel said they were hoping to have the review process done soon.
The study will be paid for with previously allocated economic development contractor funds to avoid unbudgeted general fund expenses.
Commissioner Jason Musick asked about the implications of not doing the study. Daniel said it could risk the city failing to complete the project on time and losing some of the grant. Daniel said there was no indication the city was at risk of losing funding.
Paying consultants for the study passed the commission unanimously.
In other business Monday, the commission heard a report from the Senior Resource Center for Douglas County. Manager Megan Poindexter gave the report, primarily an update on the Senior Wheels program, a transportation service for seniors.
The program provided 892 rides to Eudora seniors, Poindexter said.
Also on Monday, Ben Terwilliger gave a report to commissioners on behalf of the Eudora Historical Society and Museum.
He highlighted the annual third-grade field trip, saying it was special that so many students have attended the museum.
The museum plans to help with celebrations for the country’s 250th anniversary with special programming, including a new exhibit focused on the Fish family, who were key to the founding of Eudora.
He said the museum’s in-person visitors and online engagement remain strong.
Parks and Rec Director Sally Pennington said the final Pilla Park public input survey is open until March 17.
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