Sales tax to help LaHarpe roads

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October 18, 2014 - 12:00 AM

LAHARPE — LaHarpe voters will decide at the upcoming general election whether to approve a 1-percent sales tax to help maintain city streets.
If approved, the proceeds would make up lost funding from the state, prompted by the recent economic downturn, City Superintendent Carol Buzbee explained.
“Once the market went down, several state agencies lost money,” Buzbee said. “We were no different.”
While the city once earned nearly $30,000 a year from the state’s Special Highway Fund for street upkeep, that number has been sliced in half, to $14,700 for this year.
“We didn’t feel the crunch too badly in 2011, but in 2012 and 2013, the lack of funding has really started having an impact,” Buzbee said.
The Kansas Dept. of Revenue projects the sales tax would bring in about $15,400 annually, using figures from past years.
“That’s actually a little more than what we lost, but the figures are close.”
While LaHarpe has limited retail outlets, the tax also would be assessed on things such as Internet sales and telephone, electric and natural gas bills.
The bill would generate $1 for every $100 purchase.
The money is critical for the city to maintain its streets, Buzbee said. While LaHarpe has developed a street maintenance schedule, he fears changes will be necessary with the lost state aid.
“It has nothing to do with manpower or needing volunteers to help,” he said. “It’s all about the money. It’s to pay for the materials.”
LaHarpe receives a hefty boost from the county, which has the equipment on hand for chip-seal and other regular maintenance projects.
“I don’t think the people here realize just how much the county helps us,” Buzbee said. “The price would be astronomical if we had to acquire the equipment they let us use.”
Election Day is Nov. 4.

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