Labette County commissioners on Monday approved a resolution to place a question on the Nov. 5 ballot that could extend the county’s 1 cent sales tax for another five years.
The countywide sales tax has been in place since 1981 and collects a penny for every dollar spent to purchase items in Labette County. The money is divided between the county, Parsons and other communities in Labette County. Its proceeds are used for property tax relief.
In 2018, the 1 cent tax generated $2,651,366. Of that amount, the county collected 47.5%, or $1,257,498. Parsons collected 36%, or $957,532.
Oswego collected $170,821, Chetopa $90,243, Altamont $90,148, Edna $38,802, Mound Valley $33,544, Bartlett $7,800 and Labette City $4,979.
Commissioner Lonie Addis has brought up several times the need for getting the question on the November ballot. The concern is that if the tax does not pass, the county and these cities would either have to cut services and their budgets or raise the mill levy to make up for the lost revenue. The tax lid law may restrict budget increases over the consumer price index.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)