November 2021 Ballot Information
APPROVED! The NOVEMBER 2021 BALLOT LANGUAGE READ AS FOLLOWS:
“Shall the City of Osawatomie levy a special purpose retailers’ sales tax in the amount of one-half of one percent (0.5%) to take effect on January 1, 2022 and to be levied for ten years until December 31, 2031, on retail sales consummated within the city of Osawatomie; the proceeds of which shall be used to pay for, in whole or in part with any other funds the cost of repairing, rebuilding, rehabilitating, upgrading and improving streets, sidewalks and all related street infrastructure and any short- or long-term financing required?”
Q: What did a “yes” vote mean?
A: Residents in Osawatomie voted to approve the measure, allowing the City to better fund and perform critical street maintenance using the money generated each year by this dedicated street sales tax.
Q: What would have happened if the ballot measure was not approved?
A: City services are generally funded by either property taxes, sales taxes or user fees. If voters had elected not to approve this sales tax, the City’s ability to take on crucial street projects would have been very limited.
The now approved sales tax is expected to generate approximately 21% of the total proposed revenues currently estimated to be dedicated to street maintenance projects.
Existing Sales Tax (Pre-November 2021)
K.S.A. 12-187 et set., as amended, (the “Sales Tax Act”) authorizes the Governing Body to submit to electors of the City the question of imposing Citywide retailers’ sales taxes, which may be in an amount not to exceed two percent (2%) for general purposes and in an additional amount not to exceed one percent (1%) for special purposes, provided sales taxes for special purposes shall expire ten (10) years from the initial date of collection thereof.
The electors of the City previously approved propositions to authorize the levy of the Citywide retailers’ sales taxes in the amount of one percent (1%) for general purpose and one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) for eight years for the special purpose of purchasing and installation of equipment for the City’s fire and police operations, and the purchase and installation of any new, replacement or updated computer software for the City’s fire, police and municipal court operations.