Shawnee County residents to vote on whether to raise sales taxes for Gage Park, zoo, Discovery Center

Shawnee County residents will vote Nov. 8 on whether to levy a new, countywide, 0.2% sales tax to benefit Gage Park, the Topeka Zoo and the Kansas Children's Discovery Center.

Shawnee County Commissioners Aaron Mays, Kevin Cook and Bill Riphahn voted 3-0 Thursday to schedule a ballot question election regarding that matter.

"I think it's important to note that we are not passing a sales tax," Cook said. "That is for the taxpayers to decide on a ballot."

The proposal commissioners approved in its initial form would have scheduled an election asking voters to impose a sales tax in the amount of 0.35%, but the commission before approving it voted 3-0 to amend it by reducing that amount to 0.2%.

"I think if we ask for any more than that, I think there's a great possibility that it does not get passed by the voters," Mays said.

The vote came after commissioners heard testimony in favor of holding the election from six people.

One person spoke against holding the election and another suggested that a sunset clause be part of the arrangement involved.

Mays said the legislation that made the election possible is written in a manner that doesn't allow for a sunset clause to be put in place.

What action made this vote possible?

Kansas lawmakers earlier this year cleared the way for a ballot question vote on the matter by passing a law authorizing the commission to schedule a vote on whether to implement such a tax during any even-year November election.

County commissioners on their own don't have the authority to levy a tax for that purpose, as only the voters can create it, said county counselor Jim Crowl.

The tax voters will consider approving would benefit the following:

• Gage Park, which would continue to be managed by Shawnee County Parks and Recreation, a part of Shawnee County's government.

• The Topeka Zoo, which would continue to be managed by the nonprofit Friends of the Topeka Zoo as part of a private-public partnership between FOTZ and Topeka's city government.

• The Kansas Children's Discovery Center, a children's museum in the park, which would continue to be operated by its own nonprofit organization.

Mays told a state legislative committee last March that while he couldn't predict whether voters would approve levying the sales tax, he thought commissioners owed it to them to ask.

How much would this raise sales taxes?

The sales tax on a $100 purchase currently generally amounts to $9.15 in Topeka and $7.65 in Shawnee County outside Topeka.

If residents were to approve a countywide sales tax in the amount of 0.2% listed on the ballot question, that would rise to $9.35 in Topeka and $7.85 in Shawnee County outside Topeka.

The tax's approval would reduce the costs Topeka's city government incurs to help operate the zoo, but city officials haven't made any commitment to cut property taxes if it were approved, Cook said.

Where would the money go?

The bill lawmakers approved earlier this year says that if voters approve a sales tax, proceeds will be distributed in the amounts of the following:

• 58% to the Topeka Zoo.

• 22% to Shawnee County, to be used to benefit Gage Park.

• 15% to the Discovery Center.

• 5% to the improvement authority to determine how to use it.

Money from the sales tax would be allowed to go:

• To improve, operate or maintain the zoo, Gage Park or Discovery Center.

• For community enrichment and outreach.

• For children's educational programming.

• For other items of public benefit and interest related to Gage Park.

• Or for paying expenses the improvement authority incurs.

What if the ballot question passes?

If voters rejected the ballot question, it couldn't be submitted to them again for two years.

The question's passage would put a sales tax in place while creating a Gage Park Improvement Authority to oversee the use of the tax's revenue. The Kansas Department of Revenue would administer the tax.

All proceeds would be deposited in a "Gage Park Improvement Sales Tax" fund in the state treasury and be remitted at least quarterly to the improvement authority.

The bill legislators approved says that if the sales tax rate approved by voters is less than 0.5%, the county commission may later arrange for voters to consider additionally raising that rate in subsequent ballot question votes to go as high as 0.5%.

Who would serve on the Gage Park Improvement Authority?

The bill lawmakers approved calls for the Gage Park Improvement Authority to consist of the following:

• Two members appointed by the Shawnee County Commission.

• Two members appointed by the Topeka City Council.

• And the directors of the Topeka Zoo, Shawnee County Parks and Recreation and the Kansas Children's Discovery Center, or their designees.

Members appointed by the county commission and city council would serve three-year terms.

Shawnee County would be required to provide funding to operate the authority for its six months, after which it would be financed using revenue from the sales tax.

Tim Hrenchir can be reached at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Shawnee County residents to consider 0.2% sales tax increase on Nov. 8