A 0.25-cent sales tax approved by voters in Kansas City is expected to generate $2.8 million per year to cover the cost of operating the citys new ambulance service. In addition to paying for ambulance service, the sales tax is expected to allow city and county officials to reduce the property tax rate.
The Unified Board of Commissioners of Wyandotte County and Kansas City have said the sales tax will allow them to reduce the property tax rate by two mills next year, or $2 for every $1,000 of assessed valuation. The sales tax will also allow the government to diversify its tax base, officials said.
While the ballot asked voters whether the city should pay for its new ambulance service with the sales tax, it did not ask them to approve the ambulance service itself. The Unified Government made that decision last year.
