Voters in Johnson County last week approved an indefinite extension of a 0.25% sales tax for public safety by a 53%-to-47% margi n.
The sales tax originally was approved by voters in 2002, with a third of the revenues going to cities in the county and the remainder dedicated to public schools. It was renewed in 2005 for the same purposes, and was set to expire Dec. 31.
With the vote, the schools’ portion of the revenues will be redirected to support $118 million of lease revenue bonds, with the proceeds dedicated to county public safety needs.
The tax is expected to generate $18.9 million a year for the county and $10.6 million for cities within the county, whose distribution was not affected by the extension.
Projects expected to be completed at least in part with bond proceeds include a $60.3 million expansion of the county jail that is currently under construction, a $30 million crime laboratory, the conversion of the old jail in downtown Olathe into a police booking facility at a cost of $24 million, and a $17 million juvenile justice center.
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 sector of the Kansas City metropolitan area.
