Johnson County commissioners voted 6–1 on May 8 to place a proposed quarter-cent Public Safety 3 countywide sales tax renewal on the Nov. 4, 2025, general election ballot. Commissioner John Myers moved the resolution; Commissioner Allen Brand seconded. The measure would renew the existing tax for a 10-year term beginning April 1, 2027, and the county said it expects the levy to generate about $35,000,000 annually if approved by voters.

The vote capped a session of public comment and debate that featured support from some residents and organized groups for public safety funding and sharp criticism from advocates who said the county should prioritize affordable housing. The proposal would continue sharing revenue with Johnson County cities pursuant to state law and allow the county to fund public safety needs including emergency medical services, 911/dispatch, ambulance replacement and operations, district attorney support, and other public-safety functions. Staff told commissioners the county plans an education effort before the November election.

County staff and supporters said the renewal is intended to address rising operating and capital costs for public safety as the county’s population grows and ages. Julie Cairns, deputy county manager, told the board the county’s stakeholder survey and program review found sales taxes are generally preferred to property tax increases and that roughly 28% of sales-tax receipts are paid by non-Johnson County visitors. Commissioners said the renewal is being positioned as a continuation of an existing voter-approved levy rather than a new tax because it would not increase the county’s overall tax rate.

Speakers from the Good Faith Network and affiliated congregations urged commissioners to pair any public-safety funding with stronger commitments to housing. Rabbi Talia Kaplan told the board that “housing keeps us safe” and said community groups had mobilized nearly 1,500 residents in favor of dedicated funding for an affordable housing trust fund. Other public commenters raised legal and statutory objections: Ben Hobert argued the resolution mixes two Kansas statutory provisions — which he cited verbally as “KSA 12 1 87 21” and “KSA 12 1 87 5” — and said that, in his view, that could put the proposition outside the Legislature’s grant of authority. Commissioners and staff responded that the proposal had undergone legal review and that the ballot language conforms to the public-safety statute the county is invoking.

Commissioners also debated tradeoffs. Some said renewing the existing Public Safety 3 tax is politically and administratively preferable because it is a known ballot question that shares revenue with cities and has a 10-year sunset, while a separate health-and-safety sales tax would be a new, perpetual levy requiring additional legislative or voter steps. Commissioner Myers, who moved the resolution, said the board’s role at this stage is to put the question before voters; Commissioner Ashcraft dissented, saying he worried the county would begin using what he called recurring funds for ongoing operating costs without precise, binding commitments on future boards.

The motion approved by the board read in full as moved on the record: "The board approve resolution 052-25, proposing the renewal of a one-fourth of one cent Public Safety 3 countywide retailer sales tax in Johnson County for a term of 10 years starting 04/01/2027, providing notice of the county's intent to submit the proposition to an election, certifying the ballot language, and setting the date of the election as the next general election, November 4, 2025." The clerk recorded the roll-call vote as follows: Commissioner Fast — yes; Commissioner Myers — yes; Commissioner Brewer — yes; Commissioner Hanslick — yes; Commissioner Ashcraft — no; Commissioner Allen Brand — yes; Chairman Mike Kelly — yes. The motion carried 6–1.

If approved by voters in November, the board said it will allocate the county share through the regular budget process and expects to program funds for ambulance replacement, 911 dispatch upgrades, mental-health co-responder positions, medical examiner staffing, corrections and jail needs, and other public-safety projects. Staff emphasized that specific projects and priorities would return to the board as budget decisions. Commissioners and public advocates also said they expect continued dialogue about housing investments and other community priorities in the months ahead.