The Platte County tax committee met this week, deferring until next month any decisions on possible ballot issues seeking renewal of the park sales tax or establishment of a law enforcement tax.
The move will push any possible ballot issues until at least the August primary election as the deadline to place a measure on the April ballot is next week. Some committee members suggested the vote should be pushed to November to maximize voter turnout.
County auditor Kevin Robinson presented revenue and expenditure scenarios through 2024 to the committee at its Monday, Jan. 21 meeting at the Platte County Resource Center. The meeting was rescheduled from Monday, Jan. 13 due to lack of quorum at that meeting.
Robinson showed committee members projected tax income, general fund balances and departmental budgets for parks and recreation, the prosecutor and sheriff’s office assuming the current tax structure remains in place. He also created spreadsheets estimating outcomes for the reduction of the parks tax and creation of a law enforcement tax.
Under the current funding structure, if the half-cent parks, recreation and stormwater tax remained in place, funding for those departments would continue to rise, with funding for other county services stagnant. Members pointed out that with very few capital projects left in the Parks Master Plan a high level of funding was not necessary, particularly once the community center renovations are paid off next year.
Two large regional park projects remain in the plan, but according to director of parks Daniel Erickson the county has not developed these parks because they have not identified a community partner to assist with operations and maintenance.
Committee member Aaron Schmidt agreed that a half-cent was not needed if the county continued on its current path of stressing maintenance of existing properties instead of development of additional parks. That path could change direction in the future, however, due to turnover of elected officials or community desires.
Committee member Shane Bartee suggested committee members consult taxpayers and other interested parties, then vote on the most appealing scenario. Chair Sandra Thomas was doubtful the group would come to a consensus on just one tax scenario, but that it could be a starting place for discussion.
Also at question was the term of any potential sales tax — five years or 10. Member Jim Kunce suggested five years, stating he believed 10 year taxes “get out of hand” due to turnover of county elected officials and staff.
Robinson questioned the wisdom of tying salaries for deputies to a five-year sales tax.
Side discussions covered topics including the county’s three-eights cent roads tax, which will expire in 2023, and the looming need for a new jail facility.
Committee member Gordon Cook said he wanted to see a similar breakdown of the roads tax, and list of outstanding projects to be completed. He also asked for commissioners to submit their own recommendation of a sales tax structure after a review of Robinson’s estimates.
This prompted several objections from committee members, including Thomas, who said recommending a tax structure was the entire purpose of the tax advisory committee.