Pottawatomie County voters pass sales tax

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By Ann Kelley
Published: August 28, 2008

SHAWNEE — Pottawatomie County Commissioner Buck Day said he'll sleep peacefully knowing the county's sales tax will be permanent.

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County voters Tuesday passed the permanent 1-cent tax by a margin of nearly 2-to-1, with 3,404 voting yes and 1,650 voting against it.

"Most of the things we're funding with it are permanent, too,” Day said "Now we don't have to worry about the future of whether we're going to have money to fund services like the jail and senior citizen centers.”

The permanent tax will begin in 2013 when an existing 1-cent tax expires. The tax generated $6.3 million in fiscal year 2007-08.

The tax will be divided as follows: 60 percent for roads and bridges; 20 percent for the county jail; 7 percent for county fire departments; 4.25 percent for emergency services; 2.75 percent for the county extension office; 2 percent for senior citizen centers; 2 percent for economic development; and 1 percent each for soil conservation services and the free fair-junior livestock show.

Other elections
Mike Booth beat incumbent Kurt Shirey for the Democratic nomination in the sheriff's race.

Booth defeated Shirey by 337 votes, 2,157 to 1,820. He faces Republican Jerry Farris, 46, of Wanette in November.

Booth, 52, is a former deputy and long-time investigator for the Pottawatomie County District Attorney's office.

Shirey, a retired Shawnee police officer, has been sheriff for six years.

In Tecumseh, Lou Sutterfield won the race for Ward 1 city council. Sutterfield is a former vice mayor who lost her seat in an election four years ago.

Sutterfield said her priorities will be improving Tecumseh's water supply, finishing a downtown streetscape project and helping unify the community.

Sutterfield garnered 371 votes, or 55.2 percent. David R. Sisco claimed 123 votes, or 18.4 percent. Craig States and Victoria Whited scored 93 and 85 votes, respectively.

Voters in Wanette School District passed three bond issues for building improvements and school buses.

Voters approved the first two questions for $300,000 in improvements to the elementary and high school. New heating and air conditioning units are among the projects. The third proposition was for $275,000 for five new buses.

Wanette property owners will see an annual increase of $50 to $75 on their property taxes to pay the bond debt, school officials said.


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Pott county will be back next year with a need for a "temporary" sales tax increase to cover more permanent needs. Then after it comes up for retirement, the idiot pols will then ask for it to become permanent, stating that there won't be a tax increase!
Voters should be wise to this flimflamming from local politicians, and tell them to either ask for a permanent sales tax increase up front, or if temporary, put it in writing that it cannot be extended, or made permanent.
John, Maud - Aug 28, 2008 2:04 PM
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