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City commission highlights
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Newly elected Mayor Sue Hack's proposal to add a 1-cent sales tax will get a look by her fellow city commissioners, but none of them emerged as a champion for the idea Tuesday night.
All four of Hack's fellow commissioners said they would need quite a bit more information on a plan she has been touting that would create a citywide 1-cent sales tax to provide funding for a new library, recreational facilities, economic development initiatives and infrastructure projects.
"I think a sales tax is probably the only realistic way to finance a new library, but I'm a little concerned about expanding it out too far," Commissioner Boog Highberger said.
Hack's proposal calls for the sales tax to last for 10 years before it would sunset, although voters at the end of the 10-year period could vote to continue the tax.
Highberger said if the sales tax were limited to just a $30 million library, a new 1-cent tax would be needed for only three years.
"Having something we can get finished with quickly might be more palatable to me," Highberger said.
Commissioners Mike Amyx, Rob Chestnut and Mike Dever all said they thought a more detailed look should be taken at each of the four areas that Hack has proposed to fund - a library, recreational facilities, economic development issues and infrastructure projects.
Dever also said he wanted to take the pulse of the public on the issue. Any new sales tax - by law - must be approved by the voters of the city. Dever, though, said he understood why Hack has made the bold proposal.
"I think the mayor sees that there are a number of issues that need to move off of center, one way or another," Dever said. "What I'm getting from her is that she wants to have a 'let's get down to business' attitude."
Amyx, who proposed a 1-cent sales tax last year for infrastructure projects and property tax relief, stopped short of endorsing Hack's proposal. He said he thought a specific component of a new sales should be to reduce the city's property tax rate.
"I think property tax relief needs to be a part of any new tax," Amyx said. "Let's face it, a sales tax is still a new tax for people to pay."
Hack said she appreciated the commissioners' questions on the subject. She said she wants to keep the sales tax proposal on the table as commissioners go through their goal-setting sessions and budget sessions this summer.
"I think that will be a time where some issues rise to the top," Hack said. "I want to hear those conversations."
Comments
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Dracul (Bill Chapman) says…
Are the "infrastructure projects" the repairs that are needed at K.U.?
If so - then Hack needs to take a very long look at where KU gets funding from. KU is a state school and as such should be funded with state funds not local funds.
While I am in favor of expanding the current library, I am not in favor of moving the library's location.
Moving the library has two problems -
> What is to be done with the current building now housing the library? If no business is willing to use the building then we will have a very large, very empty building in heart of downtown Lawrence.
> A new library for Lawrence should be located near the confluence of all the bus lines to make it easier for people without vehicles and the disabled to gain access to the new location. Some of the proposed sites were nowhere near any of the bus lines.
The other issues - "economic development issues and infrastructure projects" (leaving out the KU concern) are far too loose in description to be considered. These two need to be broken down into departments, projects, etc.
Otherwise, it would be far too easy to put any number of pet projects, favors, etc. into "economic development issues and infrastructure projects".
Perhaps a better plan would be to estimate the cost of expanding the current library have the tax run for 2 years past the needs for the library with no option for continuance. The funds NOT needed for the library should be put into a general fund for city projects approved by vote of Lawrence citizens NOT the commission of the mayor (we have to live here too).
jmadison (anonymous) says…
Have any sales tax increases been used fully for the reason they were raised? I seem to remember previous sales tax increases for more police and fire, which were actually siphoned off for other ventures. How much does our city bus system cost the taxpayer? What is the actual cost of fuel per mile for each each passenger carried? Is a new library needed or would funds to provide internet access via wireless for the citizens of Lawrence be more cost effective? One could probably buy a computer with wifi capabilities with provison of wireless access for each family in Lawrence cheaper than what a new library building would cost. Our leaders(including the school board) have not demonstrated good stewardship in all the tax monies they are currently extracting from the citizens. Taxes should not rise any more than the rate of inflation.
Time for city hall and the school board to live within their means. A twelve per cent sales tax increase would put Lawrence retailing at a further competitive disadvantage to our surrounding communities
gccs14r (anonymous) says…
Using sales tax for property tax relief is to push the burden of city services off on the poor. They're the ones who have to spend all of their money on necessities, whereas the folks out west have extra money to spend on fancy houses (and apparently were never assessed specials to pay for their infrastructure).
SB1 (anonymous) says…
Talk all they want, the sales tax will be Dead On Arrival...taxes are already difficult in this community. We have very little influence on mill levies via our elected officials, for one tax that we do influence/control, we'll kill it at the polls.
Mayor Hack, better look for Plan B.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
"What is to be done with the current building now housing the library? If no business is willing to use the building then we will have a very large, very empty building in heart of downtown Lawrence."
Move the city offices now located in the riverfront mall to the current library.
If a new library is going to be built, build it next to the Arts Center. Build what we can for $15 million, and then revisit in a couple of years, with further expansion at that site, and/or with satellite locations. The current library could continue to be used for meeting rooms and warehousing of collections, if necessary.
Thats_messed_up (anonymous) says…
No new sales tax for a library Lawrence CANNOT afford!
cowboy (anonymous) says…
log , there is little hysteria on the board because most thinking beings know this has no chance of being approved by voters. It fails on two major points , anything over the current tax rate is an automatic business killer for anyone selling larger ticket items in lawrence , and secondly the Taj Mahal of libaries and downtown devo combination just doesn't have anyones support other than Fritzel , Hack and Flanders .
moderationman (anonymous) says…
Lawrence is in desparate need of improvement districts for addtional development. By placeing all development, including residential in these districts, it is possible to levy, lets say, 1/2 of the cost of infrastructure onto the property owners in the district with the other 1/2 picked up by the city at large. In this way, at least some of the increased burden to the city would be paid by those who receive the most benefit from the improvements. Yes, this would result in either higher initial sale prices for real estate, special assesments, or both. On the other hand, it is a more sane approach than what we have now.
KsTwister (anonymous) says…
Next election and hurry it up. What part of NO to the library do you not understand. Look at our budget-see the red stuff? Thanks a lot. Sue I thought you had a chance, No to you too.
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…
To the barricades!
KsTwister (anonymous) says…
So who here thinks that mill levies 'don't rise' !!!
That is why the process of getting some balance into Lawrence with the election. A little of each --Not the constant raping of the homeowners. If Sue would have said maybe even 1/4 cent sales tax increase ---well maybe, but she was greedy. For her monolith to the skies filled with books (and waiting for a flood to float it away).
Centrist (anonymous) says…
How about using the new sales tax to fund repairs on everybody's car who has had to drive on these terrible roads ...
Socialist fools.
What are they doing with all the tax dollars that are coming in NOW? And property taxes are already high - what is being done with those funds?
gr (anonymous) says…
"Using sales tax for property tax relief is to push the burden of city services off on the poor. They're the ones who have to spend all of their money on necessities,"
Using that attitude, any new tax or existing tax could be construed as a tax on the poor.
Using taxes for other purposes is always great for the one not being taxed. If I don't drive on the toll road (which should be paid for by now), then I don't mind if they raise the toll so much so the poor could never drive on it. If I don't go to football games, then I don't mind if they raise taxes on the tickets so the poor could never attend a game.
Likewise, if I don't own a home or desire to own one, then I don't care if they raise property taxes so high the poor could never afford to own one.
Ever hear of earned income credit, homestead exemption credit, sales tax relief/refund?
merrill (anonymous) says…
*Don't raise sales taxes to lower property taxes...how do citizens win on that deal?
*While the 20 year housing boom was going on in all directions the existing infrastructure was not being maintained yet Cost of Community Services increased each day of the boom= bad planning.
* Additional funds were created for street repairs and can be done incrementally until a reasonable point is reached without raising taxes. They went into disrepair over a period of years and cannot be "smoothed out" over night. I can wait.
*Want to provide property tax relief? Reduce everyones county assessed property value 25% today. Market value
can be an animal all its' own ...we do not need to pay taxes based on market value. Market value is whatever the market will bear. Don't raise taxes to lower property taxes.
*Lawrence " the most expensive place to shop" will not encourage our 12,000-15,000 commuters to rush home and by cars, books,bicycles,food or shoes to cruise Mass.
* This sales tax idea sounds like something that came from former commissioners/developers/bankers/real estate leaders who control the Chamber of Commerce that proved not to be good planners.
KsTwister (anonymous) says…
Because Merrill, the sales tax would increase revenues $1 million a year, and how much was the library? $30 million. How do you immediately jump into debt that fast and not see it? Lawrence has been doing this buy now pay later and its killing this city.
Its not her job as a teacher that scares me its her Chamber job of Vice Chair Tourism Development; she knows people want to look at audacious library monoliths.
KsTwister (anonymous) says…
Correction:$12 million a year. (type slower)
merrill (anonymous) says…
A library without a parking package attached could come in around $17,000,000 or less if expanded to the east and west and updated on site. An across the board sales tax increase will not increase the need for more downtown parking I wouldn't think.
7th&Vermont/8th& Vermont have expandable parking lots
why not?
This sports complex idea is stimulated by thinking Lawrence will be sponsoring tournaments(tourism) which is still in heavy competition with kcmo/joco Metro and Topeka which is where the idea was conceived I speculate. How will Lawrence compete with the highest sales tax in the region? I say refine and make use of what we have before jumping into the ocean.
We know people enjoy KU sports activities, art fairs,bike races,music, eating and drinking. Lawrence can expand in these areas without
spending millions upon millions as the resources are existing aka downtown streets and implement a visitors tax on hotels/motels. Let's push the Art Center more on tourism activity. Visitors love downtown Lawrence so why not take advantage of that resource.
If we do not keep Lawrence unique why would people come from Topeka and kcmo/joco to hang out and spend money?
Dracul (Bill Chapman) says…
The library is being added to this tax plan to encourage
the vision of this improving Lawrence. Without the the library this idea would NEVER float; with it it MIGHT just pass.
If the city of Lawrence would just enforce its' building / property codes (instead of ignoring them or "giving a pass" on them) we would not have this problem. I wonder just how much of the "infrastructure" is sidewalk repairs, unneeded roundabouts, etc.
KsTwister (anonymous) says…
Streets $5,330,000 (not including labor),sidewalk gap project $250,000 just for this year. But they will need to have just as much for next year to get more repairs done.
FreetoBe47 (anonymous) says…
I would much rather pay an extra penny sales tax than have my property taxes go up 200 every year. I think this would be a much more fair tax across the board and everyone would be equally sharing in it that way.
white_mountain (anonymous) says…
What's wrong with you people?
Don't you trust government to spend your hard-earned money wisely?
News_to_me (anonymous) says…
If she has been paying attention at all, I'm sure that Mayor Hack is backpedaling away from that penny sales tax faster than you can load your bike on the T bike racks. She'll end up settling for a more palatable quarter or half penny.
blackwalnut (anonymous) says…
It might have helped the city's budget to let the developers pay more of the cost for new roads, sewers, traffic lights and roundabouts, etc. They made a bundle and the taxpayers paid.
NO to a new tax just to fund a $30 mill library and more roads for developers' projects.
NO NO NO