To the editor:

This is my reply to the July 3 Journal-World editorial “Tax assumptions.” I quote the seventh paragraph: “‘We have the legal authority to use it however we want,’ Mayor Aron Cromwell said last week. ‘But the moral authority I don’t think is there to use it for anything other than recreation.'”

This editorial is referencing the sales tax voted on by the citizens of Lawrence in November 1994 (with no sunset clause). Yes, this tax had four very specific parts, one of which was to reduce the ad valorem property tax levies as established by Douglas County.

If my memory serves me correctly, the mill levy was reduced by 0.2 of a mill in either 1995 or 1996 and nothing since then, as best I can determine. That is over 15 years ago!

As the above-mentioned editorial stated, some of the allocation to the major parts of the tax are winding down and will no longer require use of the tax. Also, the city is doing an excellent job on street improvement and other infrastructure and has no doubt used an adequate amount of the tax on recreation and beautification. I believe the time has come for using a substantial amount of the sales tax for the citizens, especially the senior citizens of Lawrence.

I do not agree with Mayor Cromwell that the city of Lawrence has the legal authority to use this tax as they desire.