Wichitans will vote to implement a 1% sales tax in the city in a special election on March 3.
If the sales tax proposal passes, it will fund four areas for improvement and provide property tax relief for up to $150 million. The areas that will receive funding include $225 million for public safety, $150 million for homeless and housing services, $250 million towards Century II and convention center improvements and $75 million to a downtown public performing arts center construction.
“The first thing people should know is that it’s a penny on every dollar,” District 1 Council Member Joseph Shepard said. “While that does sound minimal to some, what we do know is that there are a plethora of working-class families… (that) makes a world of a difference for them.”
Kansas’ current sales tax rate is 6.5% — which excludes grocery sales — and Sedgwick County charges an additional 1%, including on groceries. The vote would add another 1% tax at the city level — also including groceries — bringing the total to 8.5% in the city of Wichita.
If the vote passes, the sales tax will be implemented on July 1 and expire in 2033.
Shepard said public safety and ensuring affordable housing for citizens is important to upkeep for the city council because it helps maximize efforts to “create a city where every citizen wants to live, work, learn.”
“It’s important for students to learn about elections and to vote,” Shocker Vote Coalition coordinator Loren Belew said. “Learn about what’s on their ballot and what’s going on in their community.”
Shepard said that the city council members are aware of the financial effects the tax could have on Wichitans and have put guardrails in place aimed at protecting these residents. These include the Low Income Energy Assistance Program relief program which gives eligible families $55 per year per household. LIEAP is funded federally and provides low-income Kansans financial assistance with their home energy bills based on factors like income, available resources and household size.
While some revenue from the sales tax would go to local property tax relief, Shepard said the City Council is also looking at ways to help renters.
“(We’re) also looking into the Homestead Act to ensure that our seniors, our veterans, those with disabilities will also be able to have rent relief,” Shepard said. “Or working with developers and contractors to be able to offset some of those costs that it takes to build affordable homes, so that more homes can be built for those populations.”
On Thursday, the Shocker Vote Coalition held a lunchtime talk with the Kansas Public Finance Center to inform students about the upcoming election and the different types of taxes. Belew said they hold these types of events to help “provide information so students can make the best vote for them and understand what they’re voting for.”
“It’s their city,” Shepard said about students. “I think that every decision that happens in the city of Wichita impacts them. Whether they are here for four years to get their degree or they’re going to make Wichita their home.”
