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Resident urges more public input on sales-tax apportionment, DEI staffing concerns
Summary
Faith Martin, vice chair of the Racial Profiling Board, told commissioners she opposed rushing a proposal to apportion 0.5% of the sales tax to quality-of-life spending without advisory-board and community input and asked for more data on a DEI position that drew criticism in recent budget discussions.
At the Sept. 4 meeting Faith Martin of Southeast Wichita spoke during public comment to urge the commission not to adopt a policy reallocating part of the county's sales-tax receipts without advisory-board review and robust public engagement. Martin said she had emailed commissioners and representing the Racial Profiling Board and Kansas Advocates for Racial Justice asked for the discussion to be delayed until stakeholders could weigh in.
"This feels like it just is disappointing to me that we would be talking about something without bringing in what a taxpayer's consider core services," Martin said. She also raised concerns about the process around a DEI staff position and asked for more data and public discussion before the commission made a final decision. Commissioners acknowledged receipt of her email and moved to receive and file the public comment.
