‘My taxes are high enough’: Wichitans talk about how they voted on sales tax
Wichita voters had a range of reasons for their decisions on the city’s proposed sales tax.
The measure failed by a wide margin Tuesday.
On the ballot, Wichita voters were asked to decide whether to approve a 1% citywide sales tax that would apply to all purchases made within city limits and last seven years. The sales tax would generate $850 million for multiple things, including Century II renovations, a new performing arts center, public safety capital improvement projects and homeless services.
The final unofficial results showed the “no” votes leading with 41,097 votes and the “yes” with 9,143.
Eagle reporters went to the polls on Tuesday to see how Wichitans we’re feeling about the vote. Here’s what they said.
A ‘shared pain’
Chris Bradley Sr. voted yes at Wichita State University’s Hughes Metropolitan Complex on Tuesday afternoon. He told the Eagle that homeless services and property tax relief were the two issues that drove his decision.
“We definitely need to take care of the unhoused and property tax relief,” Bradley said. “Everyone’s looking for that, and I’m one of those looking for that too.”
Bradley acknowledged that the 1% sales tax may impact people, as well.
“I think we will all feel it, but it’s shared. It’s a shared pain,” Bradley said.
‘Too much money’
Donald and Shelby Weidler, ages 57 and 52 and owners of a staffing agency, voted against the proposal Tuesday morning at the Edgemoor Recreation Center.
“It’s too much money,” he said. “In my opinion, it was rushed through really, really quick, without proper diligence.”
The Weidlers said they would have voted on some of the individual issues had they been separate, including more funding for the homeless.
“I like the Century II, but it’s not on the same (need) level as the homeless,” Shelby Weidler said.
Victor Kinchion, who also voted at the Metroplex, said he voted no, stating simply: “My taxes are high enough as is.”
When asked what his reaction would be if it were to pass, he said: “I’ve done my part by voting.”
‘It’s for everyone’
Anne Lewis, 49, voted yes at Edgemoor Recreation Center on Tuesday morning.
“Obviously things need to be done,” she said. “There’s been a lot of research, and . . . (there’s) oversight. Things like that. It’s all important.”
She added: “There are things (in there) that are more important to me, but not everything has to be about me or for me, it’s for everyone.”
Ashley Markley, a 40-year-old architect, voted yes for the sales tax, though she said she would prefer if the projects were broken up.
“I know that the performing arts is a very polarizing issue,” she said. “I do think they should have broken it out . . . because I think they piggybacked on the homelessness and the police and (the other stuff). They piggyback that on it so that it would pass. But it’s needed. We don’t have one, and that’s unusual for a city our size . . . (the performing arts center) is going to go to a lot of good.”
Concern for struggling families
David Shaw, 60, said he voted against the sales tax.
“We’re taxed enough and I don’t trust the government. I don’t have any reason to trust them,” said Shaw, who works with the Department of Veterans Affairs and voted while holding his 20-month-old son, McKennen.
Bernarr Wharton voted no at the WSU Metroplex. He said that he wished the city could be more fiscally responsible.
“What if we vote for it this time (and) in another two years, they (ask) for another increase,” Wharton said.
Wharton said his biggest concern would be how families would be affected by the increase, specifically on groceries.
“Food prices are already going up, and now you’re going to ask struggling families, in addition to paying higher prices on everything else, to put another 1% on top of that?” Wharton said. “I can pay for it, but a lot of people aren’t going to be able to absorb an extra 1% on food.”
This story was originally published March 3, 2026 at 7:41 PM.
