Its not a stretch to say the most important vote for Iolans on Election Day may have nothing to do with who becomes the states next governor, our next representative in Congress or who gets a seat on the Allen County Commission.
When Iola voters head to the polls, theyll be asked to extend the citywide half-cent sales tax thats been in place since 1989.
Revenue from the tax has been used for major street projects and repairs, other capital projects, such as sidewalk replacement and trail extensions, and since 2012, to help pay for construction of Allen County Regional Hospital.
Its important to note that approval of the sales tax extension would not increase the sales tax in Iola, City Administrator Sid Fleming said. Its the same tax theyve paid for nearly 30 years.
The existing sales tax rate runs through 2019.
Were a little early (in putting the referendum back before voters), but we just thought wed like to get it out and done, and hopefully were successful, Fleming said.
THERE ARE some big-ticket items hanging in the balance of the Nov. 6 vote, most notably a full rebuild of Madison Avenue, from McDonalds on the west edge of town to Jump Start Travel Center on the east.
While acknowledging a better look at the projects cost wouldnt be available until an engineers study is complete, Fleming expects the price tag to land in the $8 million range, or more.
Because of a recent change in how the federal and state governments provide assistance to municipalities for road projects, Fleming doesnt expect much outside funding.
There might be other options out there, such as some sort of financing plan, he continued, but honestly, if were going to get Madison done, the sales tax vote will have to be successful.
The other interested party in the upcoming ballot initiative is the hospital.
Allen County voters approved a quarter-cent sales tax in 2010 to help pay for ACRHs construction, a figure made possible after Iola city commissioners agreed to hand over half of its half-cent tax revenue roughly $300,000 annually to pay off construction bonds.
Trustee Patti Boyd told the Register this week the hospital plans to reach out to the city once again if the sales tax is extended beyond 2019.
If Iola voters say yes to the extension, the decision to continue supporting the hospital rests with Iola City Council members.
THE SALES tax has been approved by overwhelming margins in 1989, 1995, 1999 and 2008. The most recent extension in August 2008 was supported by 78 percent of the voters.
