The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners voted 6-1 on a motion to direct staff to bring back a business item on May 8 placing a renewal of the county's public safety 3 sales tax on the Nov. 2025 general election ballot.

Chairman Mike Kelly, chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, told colleagues he favored a November ballot because it gives time for public education and avoids the estimated $1 million cost of a March special election. "I believe that we should renew the public safety sales tax and we should go to the ballot in November 2025 to do so," Kelly said during the Committee of the Whole meeting.

Why it matters: County staff told commissioners that Johnson County faces rising costs driven by inflation and demographic change while traditional revenue sources are constrained. Robin Sines, the county's budget director, said "from 2019 to 2024, the cumulative increase in CPI was 22.5%, while the building cost index was 36.5%" and noted slower sales-tax growth and limits on assessed valuation growth. Staff estimated a quarter-cent renewal of the existing public safety 3 sales tax would yield about $35,000,000 annually for the county; a new health-and-safety sales tax option that would not be shared with cities was estimated at about $53,000,000 annually.

Board discussion and context: County Manager Penny Postoak Ferguson framed the session as a continuation of conversations about long-term fiscal health that began last year and at the board retreat. She and staff summarized a five-year forecast showing the county's general fund reserve at the board target (about 28%) through 2027 but declining below the target in 2028'30 if no revenue changes or expenditure reductions occur.

Deputy County Manager Julie Cairns briefed commissioners on the existing sales tax. She said the current public safety 3 sales tax was approved by voters in November 2016, began collections April 1, 2017, and is set to sunset March 31, 2027 unless extended. The ballot language required by statute limits the renewal to a 10-year sunset if placed under the same statutory authority.

Staff presented alternatives considered: renewing the current public safety 3 (quarter-cent, shared with cities under the statute), proposing a new health-and-safety sales tax (varying rates with county retention of collections), or increasing property taxes (which the board controls but which survey respondents disfavored). The county also is working with ResourceX to score and inventory departmental programs for potential efficiencies; staff said ResourceX's work could identify savings over 6'12 months but is unlikely to fully close the long-term gap by itself.

Public-opinion and costs: The county contracted ETC to survey residents. Staff summarized that 68% of survey respondents said they were "very likely" or "somewhat likely" to support a renewal of the quarter-cent public safety sales tax if proceeds were used for ambulance/EMS, mental-health response and emergency preparedness. Commissioners repeatedly cited that a renewal is a "pull factor" that collects revenues from people who work in or visit the county, thereby not relying solely on property owners.

Dissent and cautions: Commissioner Ashcraft voted no and urged caution. He cited national best-practice guidance that warns against funding ongoing operating costs with sunsetted, nonrecurring revenue sources. "Using non recurring sunsetted monies for ongoing practices . . . is a disaster in the making," Ashcraft said, adding concerns that future boards could face hard choices when the revenue sunsets.

Other commissioners raised equity and communication points. Commissioner Hanslick said sales taxes are regressive and disproportionately affect lower-income residents but supported renewal as the most pragmatic option now. Several members emphasized the need to continue seeking efficiencies, review vacancies and reallocate staff where appropriate.

Formal action and next steps: Commissioner Dan Myers moved to direct staff to bring back a business item at the board's May 8 meeting to place the public safety 3 sales tax renewal on the Nov. 2025 ballot under KSA 12-18721 to fund public safety projects; Commissioner Allen Brand seconded. The roll-call vote was 6 in favor, 1 opposed (Commissioner Ashcraft). The clerk recorded the vote as: Fast: aye; Myers: aye; Brewer: aye; Hanslick: aye; Ashcraft: no; Allenbrand: aye; Kelly: aye.

Staff said they will prepare ballot language, an outreach/education plan for voters, and the formal business item for the board's May 8 agenda. Commissioners emphasized outreach to explain what services the renewal would support and to list efficiencies already undertaken. If approved by voters, the renewal would have a 10-year sunset consistent with the current statute.

Ending: The board confirmed the item will return on the May 8 agenda for formal action documents and ballot language. No change to the 2026 budget was made at the meeting; staff noted any revenues or program adjustments would be reflected in the 2027 budget process if the tax is extended.