NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council unanimously tabled the proposed quarter-cent sales tax question for 2024 that was on the agenda for Tuesday, because they want to look at the underlying percentage breakdown of the distribution of the tax before putting the question before the voters again this November.
The current percentages are 33% goes to the Cosmosphere, 5% goes to STRATACA, 15% goes to property tax relief and then 47% goes to streets and infrastructure," said Angela Richard, Director of Finance.
Different city council members had different reasons for wanting to table the question. Steve Garza wanted to get more public feedback.
"I'd like to see this get tabled so I've got two weeks to go talk to the citizens I represent and see how they feel," Garza said. "I have no problem with putting it on, because the organizations need it, but I'd like to go out and talk to the people, all of the people and talk to them about it."
Sara Bagwell wanted to take a hard look at the underlying percentages.
"We pay that quarter-cent tax because of our roads and it does really help us," Bagwell said. "Like you said, it helps you a lot, but it would also help the city a lot, too, if we could reinvest some of that money into our roads and sidewalks. You know it is a challenge and who gets what piece of the pie?"
Jim Remar with Cosmosphere told the council that if their percentage were cut, he would have to take a look at charging admission to Reno County residents, which Cosmosphere currently does not do and also potentially cutting some staff. Bagwell pushed back against that assertion, but Remar said it would require a look at the whole budget if tax funding were cut.
As an example, in February the Cosmosphere took in $86,000 for its portion. The quarter-cent sales tax is 16% of the Cosmosphere's operating budget. The City Council plans to revisit adding the tax question at its meeting in two weeks.