Wichita restaurant owner John Arnold says it is difficult to avoid feeling vilified by government restrictions placed on businesses in the interest of public health. …He joined others from the restaurant industry in supporting House Bill 2142, which would punish counties that imposed health orders that limited business activities. The counties would have to reimburse businesses for 100% of their property tax bill, including property taxes paid to the state and other taxing entities, for a proportionate amount of business lost. The bill appears to be a conversation starter, but perhaps not the solution, for lawmakers eager to help restaurants recover from the pandemic’s severe financial toll. County representatives warned they would have to make steep cuts to law enforcement budgets if forced to repay an estimated $500 million in property tax refunds across the state. The bill only applies to county-imposed restrictions, absolving Gov. Laura Kelly of the responsibility for losses caused by a statewide shutdown at the start of the pandemic.
Source: Kansas Reflector
