By a relatively slim margin, Overland Park voters agreed to raise the city’s sales tax to fund road construction and repair work, extra money that officials say will help slow the use of the controversial chip seal method to resurface streets. In a mail-in election that concluded Thursday, 53.4%, or 19,157 voters, agreed to raise the tax, while 46.6%, or 16,703, voted no. The city saw nearly 25% voter turnout, with 35,897 people casting ballots. The infrastructure sales tax will jump from one-eighth of a cent to three-eighths. The tax will last for 10 years, starting next April. The lower tax had been in place for 25 years and has since been approved three more times by much wider margins than this month’s vote. In 2013, 72% of voters renewed it, and 75% did so in 2008.
Source: Joco 913 News
