MCPHERSON, Kan. — Voters in the City of McPherson will vote Aug. 2 on whether or not to keep a half-cent sales tax on the books.
Below is the ballot question:
Shall the City of McPherson, Kansas be authorized to impose a one-half percent (0.50%) Citywide retailers' sales tax (the "Sales Tax"), the revenues to be derived therefrom to be used for the purpose of financing the costs of the following and related expenditures:
(a) 70% of the revenue from the Sales Tax to finance street and drainage improvements;
(b) 20% of the revenue from the Sales Tax to finance public lands and facilities; (c) 5% of the revenue from the Sales Tax to finance law enforcement projects; and (d) 5% of the revenue from the Sales Tax to finance museum facilities and support; with the collection of the Sales Tax to commence on the expiration of the existing 0.50% Citywide retailers' sales tax approved at an election held in 2012 to finance various capital improvements within the City (which is expected to be October 1, 2023), and to expire ten (10) years after its commencement; all pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 12-187 et seq., as amended?
If passed, this would keep McPherson's sales tax rate at 9%. The city's supporting documents on its website mention rates for other area cities. Below are those rates.
Salina 9.250%
Hutchinson 8.600%
Newton 8.500%
Great Bend 8.250%
McPherson 9.000%
El Dorado 7.500%
Ottawa 12,625 9.600%
If the tax vote fails, it would sunset in 2023.