NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Jim Remar with Cosmosphere is clear. The funds from their portion of the quarter cent sales tax that is on the ballot Nov. 8 are vital to their operation.
"This accounts for about 19% of our operating revenue," Remar said. "It's huge for us. It allows us to do programming, upgrades, upkeep of the facility, exhibits that the community gets to enjoy. Reno County residents get to go to the Hall of Space for free. Through the sales tax, we're able to continue to provide excellent programming to the community."
The kind of cutting back that Cosmosphere had to do during the pandemic is very similar to what might happen if, all of the sudden, 19% of their budget was gone.
"It would force us to look at several things," Remar said. "Obviously, we would have to look at providing free admission to the Hall of Space museum for Reno County. We would have to look at a reduction of programs and potentially staff. It would have a devastating impact on us."
This is not a new tax, this is the continuation of what has been a Hutchinson staple for decades.
"I believe it's been in existence since 1994," Remar said. "This isn't a new tax. It's been a tax that is in existence. More importantly, people coming into Hutchinson also pay this tax. Over 20% of this tax is paid by people coming into Hutchinson to go to Cosmosphere, to STRATACA, to eat in our restaurants, to shop in our shops."
The projected $11 million generated over five years from the renewal of the sales tax would continue to be distributed so that 47% of the tax goes for Hutchinson's street program, 33% to Cosmosphere, 15% for property tax reduction, and 5% to Strataca.
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