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Atchison County commissioners discuss 1¢ EMS sales tax and legal steps to secure revenue
Summary
County commissioners reviewed a proposed 1¢ sales tax to fund EMS, heard legal guidance on how to lock revenue to EMS via a charter resolution and agreed to seek further administrative details from the Kansas Department of Revenue before implementation.
Atchison County commissioners spent a substantial portion of their July 14 meeting discussing a proposed 1¢ countywide sales tax to fund emergency medical services (EMS) and options for ensuring that sales-tax proceeds remain dedicated to EMS.
Commissioner Campbell urged support for the ballot measure, saying the tax “spreads the responsibility out, amongst everybody in our community” and would help fully fund EMS rather than relying on property-tax increases. Commissioners noted the tax would be collected countywide and applied to purchases that are already subject to sales tax.
County legal counsel advised the board on post-election steps and protections. “The language is pretty clear. Dedicated sales tax for EMS. You are precluded by law for spending on anything else,” counsel said, and added that the board would need to notify the Kansas Department of Revenue and pass a resolution consistent with the ballot question to implement collections. Counsel also advised that the county could adopt a charter resolution to establish a continuing local legislative commitment that EMS revenue stay in an EMS-specific account, but cautioned that a charter resolution requires unanimous adoption by the three commissioners, publication and can be subject to a protest petition.
Commissioners asked procedural questions about whether the local tax would apply to groceries and were told state law removed the state sales tax on groceries as of Jan. 1, 2025; local sales tax mechanics would be handled separately and clarified with the Kansas Department of Revenue.
No formal ordinance or ballot language was adopted at the meeting. Commissioners agreed to pursue additional administrative details with the Kansas Department of Revenue and to consider adopting a charter resolution or a county resolution aligning budget line items with any future dedicated EMS sales-tax proceeds if the ballot measure is approved.
What happens next: County staff and counsel said they will follow up with the Kansas Department of Revenue on collection mechanics and will return with recommended language and procedural steps for the commission to consider.
