Area business leaders back sales tax for schools

With a sales-tax plan for schools officially on the ballot in Johnson County, area business leaders have joined ranks to send voters an election-season S.O.S. -- "Support Our Schools."

On Monday, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce voted to spend $50,000 on an educational campaign to convince Johnson County voters that a quarter-cent sales tax to generate revenue for schools and cities deserves their support in the August primary.

"This is a historic opportunity for the people of Johnson County to support schools," said Fred Logan, a Prairie Village lawyer and organizer of a separate get-out-the-vote effort.

"I think it's also important for the people of Johnson County to send a message to the rest of Kansas that they consider schools to be critical in terms of the continued prosperity of the county," Logan said.

If approved, the tax would generate $45.3 million in three years for the county's six school districts. An additional $25.4 million would go to the county's 21 cities.

The effort is being led by area chambers of commerce in both states. Their goal is to convince voters that Johnson County schools need a financial tourniquet until the state can rework its school finance formula.

Kansas lawmakers increased state aid to schools by $20 per student this session, an amount education leaders say will not even cover the increase in insurance premiums.

Bill Frick, a Shawnee Mission School District administrator who has served as a lobbyist for the past two years, told his school district's board members Monday that the state probably would not come through on its promised increase.

The situation is dire, said Blake Schreck, president of the Lenexa Chamber of Commerce. Passage of the sales tax "is the difference between adequate and excellent" in the county's schools, he said. "Frankly, adequate isn't good enough for us."

Others leading the Johnson County effort include Terry Dunn, chairman of the Johnson County Business Leadership Council, and Larry Winn III, a land-use lawyer and education supporter.

Winn, who said he expects opposition from critics who want better financial accountability from educators, will focus his efforts on parent-teacher organizations, athletic associations and neighborhood groups.

If the tax is approved, Johnson County schools would receive about $14 million in the first year. The Shawnee Mission district would receive about $5.5 million, followed by Olathe with $3.8 million and Blue Valley with $3.2 million.

School districts across the state are facing tight budgets this year because of Kansas' $700 million budget shortfall and the state's school finance formula, which limits the amount of money districts can spend per student.

To reach Finn Bullers, Johnson County government reporter, call (816) 234-7705 or send e-mail to fbullers@kcstar.com.

This is going to really boost Missouri business's and tax receipts. If I lived on the Kansas side, I'd go to MO to buy. How much more can we stand?? Oh well, bi-state sends $$ to Missouri anyway.

My property taxes are already high enough that I will not be able to stay in my house when I retire. Now this. Great Will Rogers quote, by the way.

The problem is that MO taxes you even more, so its probably still cheaper to buy whatever you want in KS.

God help 'em, then. Our citizens foolishly agreed to a SPLOST- a Special Local Option Sales Tax.

We're going into the fourth hike now- from a 4% sales tax, to 8%- and they still "don't have enough money!"

And yes, it's "for the sake of the children..."

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