HAVEN, Kan. — Haven voters will decide Aug. 4 whether to authorize a new 1% citywide general-purpose retailers' sales tax to help fund major infrastructure improvements throughout the community.
The proposed sales tax would take effect Jan. 1, 2027, if approved by voters. Revenue generated by the tax would be used for general city purposes, including improvements to the city's electric, water, sewer and street infrastructure.
City officials say the proposal comes as Haven faces approximately $6 million in needed improvements to its electric system, along with ongoing street, water and wastewater projects that require continued upgrades and repairs.
The city says a sales tax would help spread the cost of those improvements beyond local residents because everyone who shops in Haven pays the tax, regardless of where they live. Officials estimate that 25% to 40% of the sales tax revenue could come from non-residents who make purchases within the city.
If the measure passes, city leaders plan to use the revenue to help pay for infrastructure projects while reducing the amount of debt or other funding sources needed to finance the work.
City officials say repairing the electric system is a significant priority, and the additional sales tax revenue would provide a dedicated funding source to address both current and future infrastructure needs.
If voters reject the proposal, the city says it will need to consider other funding options, which could include borrowing money, increasing utility rates, raising property taxes, reducing expenditures or using a combination of those approaches.
To help residents learn more about the proposal, the City of Haven will host two public informational meetings at the Haven Community Building:
- Wednesday, July 15, at 6 p.m.
- Thursday, July 30, at 7 p.m.
The election is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, and all registered Haven voters are encouraged to participate.