Voters in Johnson County are deciding today whether to extend a 0.25% sales tax to support almost $118 million of lease revenue bonds for county criminal justice projects.
The tax is set to expire Dec. 31. The tax was first levied in 2002, and extended for another three years in 2005. It is expected to generate about $29.5 million a year by 2009.
Revenues are currently divided between the county’s school districts and cities, with two-thirds of the revenues flowing to schools and the remainder allocated to municipalities.
If voters approve the plan, the allocation to school districts will cease at the end of 2008 and the money will be re-dedicated to county public safety projects. The allocation to the cities will not be affected.
The county would get $18.9 million a year, with cities sharing $10.6 million a year.
The county’s debt, including general obligation bonds and lease revenue bonds, is rated triple-A by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investors Service.
Johnson County is located in the southwestern edge of the Kansas City metropolitan area.
