MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
The Reno County Commission voted 3-1 Tuesday to take no action on a request that would have asked the Kansas Legislature to grant the county authority to consider placing a countywide sales tax question on a ballot later this year.
County Administrator Randy Partington told commissioners the special meeting was prompted by a state deadline: local legislators would need to request bill drafting by next Monday for the county to have a path—through legislation—to potentially seek voter approval for an additional county sales tax. Partington emphasized the discussion was not a vote to impose a sales tax, but a preliminary step to ask the Legislature for permission to let voters decide at a later date.
Partington said Reno County currently lacks “home rule” authority to enact an additional county sales tax without state approval. He outlined possible legislative options referenced in the meeting packet, including proposals that would allow the county to submit a question to voters for a sales tax tied to property tax (ad valorem) reduction, economic development, and/or public infrastructure. He also cited survey results presented previously to commissioners indicating near 70% support among surveyed registered voters for a half-cent sales tax, with more than 50% support in an online public survey.
Commissioners discussed concerns raised by residents that the survey was not widely known and did not reflect broad county sentiment. Commissioner comments also addressed uncertainty over whether a sales tax would represent a true offset to property taxes or could effectively become an overall tax increase, depending on future commission decisions, economic conditions, and inflation-driven budget pressures.
Partington and commissioners noted that dedicating portions of a sales tax to replace certain budgeted property-tax-funded items—such as economic development allocations and road and bridge spending—could indirectly reduce pressure on the property tax levy, but exact impacts would depend on future decisions and election outcomes.
During public comment, several residents argued the county’s overall sales tax burden is already high and urged commissioners to focus on spending restraint rather than new revenue options. Others questioned transparency and outreach around the survey and asked for clearer public engagement. One speaker encouraged the commission to at least seek legislative authority so county voters could weigh in at a later election, noting the discussion was separate from Hutchinson’s upcoming city sales tax vote.
Commissioners also discussed the concept of exempting groceries from any potential new tax, but Partington said state law does not currently provide a mechanism for a county-level food exemption, though commissioners could potentially request the Legislature consider it.
Ultimately, the commission voted on a motion “not to do anything at this time” regarding the legislative request. Commissioners Vincent, Winger, and Boegner voted yes; Commissioner Hurst voted no, and the motion carried 3-1, ending the issue for now unless brought back in a future year.
Because the commission did not approve sending a request to Topeka, Partington said the county would be unable to pursue a countywide sales tax ballot question under the current timeline and would need to revisit the matter during a future legislative session if commissioners want to consider it again.