The Garden City Telegram
3/23/2013
NEWS

Impact of sales tax expiration

Voters will decide on April 2 whether to extend the half-cent sales tax for another 10 years. Revenues from the tax have been used to pay for major transportation projects and to stabilize the city's property tax levies.

The following information, provided by the city of Garden City, shows the impact on the mill levy and annual property taxes if the sales tax is not reauthorized. The city also provided a list of past and future projects that used or would use sales tax revenue.

Impact of 17 mills on a $150,000 home:

* $17,250 in assessed valuation

* 2013 mill levy: 38.963 mills

* Current city tax is $672.11

Without the sales tax

* 2013 mill levy plus 17 mills = 55.963 mill levy

* City tax would be $965.36

Total current city taxes collected: $13,483,755

* Sales tax: $9,426,217 (69.9 percent)

* Property tax: $3,602,341 (26.72 percent)

* Motor vehicle tax: $455,197 (3.38 percent)

City taxes without half-cent sales tax

* Sales tax: $6,673,967 (49.5 percent)

* Property tax: $6,354,591 (47.12 percent)

* Motor vehicle tax: $455,197 (3.38 percent)

Some of the projects completed using funds from the half-cent sales tax:

* Kansas Avenue reconstruction from Eighth Street to Taylor Avenue

* Fulton Street reconstruction from Main to Ninth streets

* Taylor Avenue reconstruction from Jenny Avenue to Campbell Street

* Mary Street reconstruction

* Annual crack filling and street sealing

* Airport Taxiway A, phase 3 reconstruction

* Airport parking lot expansion

Future projects dependent on the sales tax:

* Kansas Avenue widening from Main to Third streets

* Kansas Avenue widening from Second Street to Old Manor Road

* Kansas Avenue reconstruction from Old Manor Road to Anderson

* Annual crack filling and street sealing

* Airport snow removal equipment building

* Airport Taxiway F construction