Olathe ? Voters weighed a controversial plan to raise the Johnson County sales tax by a quarter-cent, with two-thirds of the money aimed at the county’s public schools and the rest at its cities.

The tax was passing easily in early, unofficial returns. With 64 percent of the precincts reporting, 38,302, or 61 percent, were voting for the tax, with 24,507, or 39 percent, voting no.

The education portion of the proposal has drawn fire from tax critics and neighboring school districts. The Kansas City, Kan., district has promised legal action if the proposal is approved, saying the extra spending on education would give Johnson County students an unfair advantage.

Others said the tax would violate the Kansas Constitution, which gives the state sole responsibility for education financing.

However, in March, Atty. Gen. Carla Stovall issued an opinion that said a city or county may use a sales tax for economic development, if voters approve such a use. Stovall also said she believed the state appellate court would uphold the tax if it were used to improve schools, which would make the area more attractive for economic development.

Among other local issues on the ballot in Kansas Tuesday:

l Voters in Trego County soundly rejected a proposal to consolidate their sheriff’s office and the WaKeeney Police Department into a single law enforcement agency.

With 100 percent of the vote in, the proposal was defeated by a 838 to 146 vote, with about 41 percent of the county’s voters casting a ballot.

Reno County District Judge Steve Becker will face his wife, Sarah E. Sweet-McKinnon, a public defender in Sedgwick County, in the November general election for the Reno County Division 3. Sweet-McKinnon is running unopposed in the Aug. 6 Democratic primary.