Kansas City, Kansas, mayor asks voters to pass 2 sales taxes: 'We have to invest in ourselves'

Mayor, always good to have you on the show.

Thank you so

much.

It's good to be here.

So a few sales taxes are in question at next month's elections.

The first, which would apply to the whole county, is this quarter cent sales tax for the purpose of providing health care services.

What's the need for this tax from your vantage point?

Well, you know, we've been one of the unhealthiest counties in the state of Kansas.

We've been in the bottom three, I would say, for probably the past 30 years

plus.

And so when you think about that, it will help in a tremendous way.

Is

this a new tax?

Yes, but it's, you know, a special use tax and it's 10 years, right? So there is a expiration date on it, right? And I am really excited about the opportunity for us to look at how we address health care in our community and make sure that it is accessible for as many of our residents as possible.

This is a quarter cent sales tax.

How much do you anticipate it could raise annually and how long would this tax be in effect?

Well, the tax will be in effect for the next 10 years.

We're looking at about $12 million that it will raise annually.

So you do the math on that.

That's a significant amount of funding that can help Wyandotte County.

Talk to me about what kind of services you hope will be funded here, Mayor.

I heard that this could fund an emergency shelter for the unhoused in Wyandotte

County.

So outside of the health care, community health, also to address homelessness more in a holistic manner.

Of course, this will serve Kansas City, Kansas, Bonner Springs and Edwardsville because this is a county tax.

Mayor, always good to have you on the show.

Thank you so

much.

It's good to be here.

So a few sales taxes are in question at next month's elections.

The first, which would apply to the whole county, is this quarter cent sales tax for the purpose of providing health care services.

What's the need for this tax from your vantage point?

Well, you know, we've been one of the unhealthiest counties in the state of Kansas.

We've been in the bottom three, I would say, for probably the past 30 years

plus.

And so when you think about that, it will help in a tremendous way.

Is

this a new tax?

Yes, but it's, you know, a special use tax and it's 10 years, right? So there is a expiration date on it, right? And I am really excited about the opportunity for us to look at how we address health care in our community and make sure that it is accessible for as many of our residents as possible.

This is a quarter cent sales tax.

How much do you anticipate it could raise annually and how long would this tax be in effect?

Well, the tax will be in effect for the next 10 years.

We're looking at about $12 million that it will raise annually.

So you do the math on that.

That's a significant amount of funding that can help Wyandotte County.

Talk to me about what kind of services you hope will be funded here, Mayor.

I heard that this could fund an emergency shelter for the unhoused in Wyandotte

County.

So outside of the health care, community health, also to address homelessness more in a holistic manner.

Of course, this will serve Kansas City, Kansas, Bonner Springs and Edwardsville because this is a county tax.