Commissioners this week approved a ballot measure seeking renewal of the Platte County roads sales tax at the November general election.
The three-eighths-cent sales tax was twice approved by voters, running for the past 20 years. The tax expires at the end of the year, and talks about extending it for another term have been ongoing for some time.
Earlier this month, commissioners announced that after talks with the Platte County Economic Development Council (EDC), municipalities and other stakeholders, that the tax renewal proposal will move forward at a quarter cent for 10 years.
The renewal proposal was unanimously approved by commissioners at their Monday, Aug. 22 meeting.
Director of public works Bob Heim presented the ballot proposal, listing the past two decades of significant capital projects completed due to the dedicated tax funding.
The decrease will not negatively impact the taxing jurisdictions that currently benefit from the tax, according to commissioners.
Over the past 20 years, nearly every county bridge in need of an update has already been replaced and several roadways have been rebuilt, including Interurban Road.
“With a little bit we can capture a lot,” Heim said, noting the tax has allowed the county to leverage state and federal dollars for large, complex projects across the county, such as the reconstruction and reconfiguration of Barry Road, projects on Highway 45 and the completion of Northwood Road.
The county will retain 10 percent of funds collected, with 27 percent directed to the county’s road districts and 73 percent allocated to municipalities.
“Everyone remains whole at that quarter cent,” he said.
The Platte County EDC led the effort to collect information on planned road and bridge work from cities and road districts.
EDC member Aaron Schmidt told the commission last month that the EDC went to cities and asked about their roads needs.
“We came up with ranking criteria: safety, economic development, traffic volumes, ability to leverage funds and the condition of the roadway,” Schmidt said.
The EDC provided the commission with a list of the road and bridge needs. The list of needs totaled nearly $250 million.
Commissioners thanked Parkville resident Gordon Cook for his consulting work to estimate budget effects of various tax scenarios.