Jeff Longwell and Pete Meitzner: Time for new agreement on countywide tax

When voters passed a countywide sales tax in 1985, here’s what they intended: half the tax for new roads and half for property tax relief, with a state distribution formula to ensure equity.

For the formula to work as intended, each local government would have to reduce property tax mill levies and keep them low. Wichita immediately lowered its mill levy and has now kept it steady for more than two decades.

Unfortunately, Sedgwick County took a different course. Intended or not, the impact on sales tax distribution has been to enrich the county budget at the expense of Wichita residents.

Consider these facts:

▪  Wichita generates 78 percent of the sales tax revenue but now receives only 58 percent back. Estimates reported in The Eagle in 1985 showed Wichita would receive at least 65 percent of revenue each year.

▪  While Wichita’s share has decreased, Sedgwick County’s share has increased.

▪  Sedgwick County continues to spend most of these sales tax funds on road maintenance, not new roads.

▪  All 2015 Sedgwick County sales tax-funded road projects were located outside of Wichita – in the less-traveled unincorporated area.

It would be irresponsible for us to pretend a problem doesn’t exist. That is why, months ago, we brought it to the attention of Sedgwick County commissioners and began having discussions. We raised the issue because it’s important for the Wichita region.

Today the question is simple: How do we fix it?

There appear to be two options: Work together to reprioritize how local sales tax dollars are spent on roads in the future, or change the distribution formula, as three other metropolitan areas in the state have done.

Wichita proposes partnering with Sedgwick County to prioritize the funding of road projects near the edge of Wichita, which would support the continued growth of both Wichita and the county, and serve all residents. This would require no reduction to countywide services and no increase in property tax mill levies, and would be consistent with the original pledge to voters.

We are willing to go to the state if we have no other choice, but we prefer to solve it in cooperation with Sedgwick County.

We agree with County Commissioners Dave Unruh and Richard Ranzau that “It’s about priorities, and it’s about public trust” (“Keep formula for distributing countywide sales tax,” Dec. 31 Opinion). Focusing on priorities together offers the best solution, and would reinforce public trust.

After 30 years of paying this sales tax, now is the time to reach agreement on a plan that benefits everyone in Sedgwick County, including Wichita residents – all of whom are also residents of Sedgwick County.

This story was originally published January 14, 2016 at 6:05 PM with the headline "Jeff Longwell and Pete Meitzner: Time for new agreement on countywide tax."