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Council green-lights plan to pursue 1% dedicated sales tax on spring 2026 mail ballot for streets and stormwater
Summary
After staff outlined election timing and revenue estimates, the council agreed by consensus to pursue a 1% dedicated sales tax for streets and stormwater, with estimated revenue of about $700,000 per year and a 10-year sunset; mail-ballot timing requires expedited election planning.
City Administrator Beth Linn and Assistant City Administrator Trey Whitaker briefed the council on options and timing for a dedicated local sales tax. Whitaker presented estimated revenue at 1% as roughly $700,000 annually (about $7 million over 10 years) and advised that a mail-ballot special election has strict calendar requirements. “In 2025 the State of Kansas changed this process,” Whitaker said, explaining the available election dates and the need to coordinate with the county election officer.
Council reached consensus to pursue a dedicated 1% sales tax targeted to streets and stormwater and to run a spring 2026 mail ballot. Linn and Whitaker noted estimated election costs of around $5,000 and that the first distribution of revenues would begin about a year after the election; the tax would include a 10-year sunset as discussed.
