8 3

ON THE BALLOT

Sales tax on ballot to help pay for infrastructure, economic development

BAILEY BRITTON

editor-in-chief

In addition to voting on national and local government officials on Nov. 3, Manhattan residents will vote on a sales tax continuance.

City manager Ron Fehr said the sales tax — if it passes — will help pay for economic development, infrastructure and property tax relief.

“The Riley County sales tax basically provides a little over $3 billion a year for the

EMMA WITTER

news editor

This general election, voters in Riley County have some key contested races on their ballots. Here are the candidates they could be deciding on.

RILEY COUNTY COMMISSION

In District 2, Fanny Fang (Democrat) and Greg McKinley (Republican) are running to fill Marvin Rodriguez’s seat as Riley County Commissioner.

In District 3, Kathryn Grace Focke (Democrat) and John E. Matta (Republican) are running to fill Rob Wells’ seat as Riley County Commissioner.

KANSAS STATE SENATE, DISTRICT 22

Craig Bowser (Republican) is running against incumbent state Sen. Tom Hawk (Democrat).

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM KANSAS, DISTRICT 1

Kali Barnett (Democrat) and Tracey Mann (Republican) are running to replace Michael Houser (Republican) as the city,” Fehr said.

The sales tax on the ballot, however, only applies to the city of Manhattan. This includes the portion of Manhattan in Pottawatomie County.

“One of the main reasons that the city would like to have a citywide sales tax is because we’re leaving part of city of Manhattan out at the Pottawatomie County line,” Fehr said. “Which is a big retail participant. So, it will generate significantly more revenue.”

The sales tax would go into District 1 representative in the House of Representatives.

KANSAS U.S. SENATE

Barbara Bollier (Democrat) and Jason Buckley (Libertarian) are running against Rep. Roger Marshall (Republican) to represent Kansas in the U.S. Senate following current Sen. Pat Roberts’ decision to retire.

U.S. PRESIDENT

Presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden and vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris (Democrat) and Jo Jorgensen and vice presidential nominee Jeremy “Spike” Cohen (Libertarian) are running against sitting President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence (Republican).

UNOPPOSED RACES

This year, there are five unopposed races on the Riley County ballot, including: -Rich Vargo (Republican) for reelection as County

Clerk. -Shiloh Herger (Republican) for reelection as

County Treasurer. effect on Jan. 1, 2023 — the day after the current sales tax is set to expire.

In 2018, Fehr said a 0.3 percent increase to the sales tax was voted on, but failed. He emphasized that this 0.5 percent continuance keeps the sales tax in the Riley County portion of Manhattan level at 8.95 percent, but in Pottawatomie County, it will increase to 9.45 percent.

The city estimates the sales tax will generate $6.5 million each year from 2023 to 2033.

Candidates and issues up for the Riley County voters to decide

Additionally, if the sales tax -Amy Manges (Republican) to replace Debbie

Regester as Register of

Deeds. -Barry Wilkerson (Republican) for County

Attorney -Deena Horst (Republican) for the District 6 seat on the Kansas

Board of Education. -Sydney Carlin (Democrat) for the District 66

Kansas State House seat.

Voters must also select (yes/no) whether Kansas Supreme Court Justice Eric S. Rosen should remain in office.

The same yes or no vote is up for the Kansas Court of Appeals judges Sarah E. Warner, David E. Bruns, G Gordon Atcheson, Karen M Arnold-Burger and Kathryn Gardner and Judicial District Court Judge Kendra S. Lewison.

Kansas voters can find a sample ballot for the county in which they are registered on the Kansas Secretary of State website as well as a breakdown of the candidates they have to choose from on the VOTE411 website. passes, the city can begin using current funds to help with COVID-19 relief. Fehr said this is because funds expected to be generated by the sales tax in 2021 and 2022 are already pledged to “debt service and infrastructure projects.”

“That really isn’t available to be able to utilize for other initiatives,” Fehr said. “So by redoing it now, the revenue that comes in after 2023 will replace those pledges to free up that money for immediate availability in the community to target anything we need for recovery or other initiatives that the community feels will be important.”

The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce endorses the sales tax, chamber president and CEO Jason Smith said.

“I think we’re extremely concerned about what we have seen over the last several years in terms of stagnation of job growth and also the inability to

Archive photo by Kandace Griffin | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP The sales tax on the ballot in Riley County this fall would help pay for infrastructure and economic development if it passes.

retain and attract professionals to the community,” Smith said. “We realized about three years ago ... we went through a community strategic planning process, and there were a number of activities that were outlined as part of that. So we understand and have supported, historically, the importance of economic development.”

To read more, visit kstatecollegian.com

Religion Directory

Worship Service at 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. or livestream our services online. Adult and Children Bible Hour Classes Offered at 10:00 a.m. 785.776.0424 www.gracebchurch.org 2901 Dickens Ave. (2 blks. E. of Seth Child)