Platte County voters once again renewed the county’s sales tax for parks, recreation and stormwater – this time at a reduced rate – and also approved a law enforcement sales tax to fund salary increases and stop the bleed of deputies moving on to departments with higher pay.

Each tax is set at one-quarter cent and will run for 10 years.

The parks tax passed with overwhelming support, with almost 76 percent of voters in favor of the tax renewal. The new law enforcement sales tax won by a comfortable margin, with 61 percent of voters in approval.

Earlier this year, a 10-member sales tax structure advisory committee recommended restructuring the parks tax and creating the new law enforcement tax.

“Taxes will not increase for us here in Platte County by voting for this proposal,” said committee member Shane Bartee during the campaign.

The parks tax will ensure that development and construction of trails continue and enhances existing parks, per the county’s parks master plan, while continuing major stormwater abatement infrastructure projects.

The tax will also help to continue community outreach grants for parks and stormwater projects.

Before approval of the new tax, there was no dedicated funding stream for law enforcement in Platte County. The Sheriff’s Department is responsible for deputies, school resource officers, training, equipment, emergency vehicles, 911 emergency services and housing inmates.

Platte County is responsible for the expenses related to jailing and prosecuting all individuals who committed a felony anywhere in Platte County, including the Kansas City portion of Platte County. Platte County has the same number of prosecutors it had in 2008. During that time, the number of felonies prosecuted has increased 75%.

Prosecutor caseloads have nearly doubled.

Proceeds from the new tax will help to offset these increases in demand. They will not be used for construction of a new jail facility.