McPHERSON COUNTY, Kan. — McPherson County Commissioners continued discussion on a proposed sales tax for ambulance and other health related services during Monday’s meeting.
The initial concept was to use part of the funding for the five ambulance providers based in the county, along with funds for mental health and the Health Department, but as of now this would be for ambulance services only. The idea is to use these funds to replace property tax funding. Chair Keith Becker said this would cover a much larger base with an estimated 40 percent of this coming from people outside of the county, thus reducing the burden on homeowners.
The original plan which included mental health and the Health Department, both of which have dedicated levies, could have led to about a 2.4 mill reduction in the property tax levy. If it were to just be for ambulance service, this would amount to around 1.4 mills.
Commissioner Tom Kuesner expressed concerns this would just be another tax on citizens. “I feel that we’re far apart from our original goal when we started,” he said as he suggested a group come together to run this through again. Becker and County Administrator Rick Witte will be setting up a meeting with the ambulance services to discuss this further.
One thing still not set yet is how those monies should be distributed, with ambulance providers feeling it should be distributed on set percentage. If a sales tax proposal is to be on the November general election ballot, final language for the question has to be sent to the McPherson County Clerk by no later than August 29.
