MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Reno County officials are asking residents to share their opinions on how best to fund local services and community investments through a new resident survey being conducted in partnership with Wichita State University’s Public Policy and Management Center (PPMC).
About 4,000 randomly selected Reno County residents will receive the survey in November. The results will help county leaders understand community priorities and preferences as they consider future funding options, including the potential use of sales tax revenue.
The survey will also gather feedback on how residents view the balance between sales tax and property tax as funding tools. Sales tax is collected from everyone who spends money locally—visitors, renters, and property owners alike—while property tax is paid annually by property owners, though landlords typically pass those costs along to renters.
According to 2024 county data, Reno County’s current 1-cent sales tax offsets the total county mill levy by 7.96 mills. The total county levy in 2024 was 35.504 mills.
Officials say the goal is to ensure the community understands how each tax structure impacts the funding of essential county services and to identify which investment priorities matter most to residents.
“Both sales and property taxes play important roles in keeping our community running,” county officials noted in a statement. “We want to hear from residents about what they value most and how they believe we should invest in Reno County’s future.”
Residents who receive the survey in November are encouraged to complete and return it to help shape the county’s long-term funding and service strategies.