NICKERSON, Kan. — Nickerson voters will decide Tuesday, Nov. 3, whether to extend the city's existing 1% sales tax for another five years, allowing the city to continue using the revenue for infrastructure improvements, maintenance and property tax relief.
The proposal would extend the current retailers' sales tax rather than establish a new tax.
If approved, the extension would take effect April 1, 2027, and continue through March 31, 2032.
What would the money be used for?
According to the ballot question, revenue generated by the tax could be used for several municipal projects and expenses, including:
- Park improvements
- Street maintenance and improvements
- Sewer line repairs
- Sidewalk improvements
- Visual enhancements throughout the city
- Updates to tornado siren heads and the city's warning system
- Property tax relief
The ballot language provides the city with authority to use the revenue for those purposes but does not identify specific projects or allocate funding amounts to each category.
Would the sales tax increase?
The proposal would continue Nickerson's existing 1% retailers' sales tax at the same rate.
That amounts to 1 cent for every dollar in taxable purchases.
For example, the city's 1% tax represents $1 on a $100 taxable purchase, separate from other applicable state and local sales taxes.
Voters are being asked whether to extend the current tax for an additional five years, not whether to increase its rate.
What happens if the question passes?
A majority vote in favor would authorize the Nickerson City Council to continue collecting the existing 1% sales tax from April 1, 2027, through March 31, 2032.
The city would be authorized to use the revenue for the purposes identified in the ballot question.
What happens if voters reject it?
If the question fails, the city would not receive authorization for the proposed five-year extension.
The current tax would remain subject to its existing expiration provisions, and the city would have to consider other funding sources or future proposals for projects currently supported by the tax.
When can residents vote?
The question will appear on the Nov. 3 general election ballot for eligible voters residing in the city of Nickerson.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Advance voting continues at the Reno County Annex. Saturday voting will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 31, with advance voting ending at noon Monday, Nov. 2.
Voters can find their polling locations and review ballot information through the Kansas Secretary of State's VoterView website at https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/VoterView.