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Triangle takes shape
By: Katrina Segers, staff writer
The Board of County Commissioners Thursday will hear a presentation on the Johnson County Education Research Triangle and discuss ballot language for November.
“Do I expect it to pass to get on the ballot from the commissioners? Yes,” Chairwoman Annabeth Surbaugh said.
The Johnson County Research Triangle is a partnership of the Kansas State University Innovation Campus in Olathe, the University of Kansas Edwards Campus in Overland Park and the KU Medical Center.
Commissioner Ed Peterson said the one-eighth-cent sales tax for funding goes against the traditional method of using mill levies for education financing because it would be a shift to a permanent sales tax.
“I’ve spent some time doing a little bit of background research on it. I’m in favor of the general concept of developing our bioscience capabilities and that industry. I think that is a worthwhile effort to support,” Peterson said. “I have some concern about the details about what we are actually developing or acquiring through this tax and I need to get those concerns resolved. I also have some concern whether an indefinite sales tax is an appropriate mechanism for financing this.”
Peterson said the current quarter-cent sales tax used to support K-12 education “was viewed as a temporary bridge to better state financing.”
“Part of what we are being asked to do with this tax is to fund the construction and operation of facilities,” he said. “Should we have an indefinite sales tax when we know these facilities and construction eventually gets paid off? True the operating expenses continue, but they are generally not as high as the construction costs.”
Surbaugh said she expects the presentation at Thursday’s meeting will address how the triangle will work and how funds will be used.
Peterson said he believes Johnson County voters would support the research triangle on the ballot in November because the triangle is education-oriented and could be an economic development stimulus.
Surbaugh said both sides of the issue have spoken out and that some pundits believe the vote could be very close.
“Elections are very unpredictable these days,” she said. “Our economy is certainly an issue; I consider that an issue for the sales tax as well.”
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“Do I expect it to pass to get on the ballot from the commissioners? Yes,” Chairwoman Annabeth Surbaugh said.
The Johnson County Research Triangle is a partnership of the Kansas State University Innovation Campus in Olathe, the University of Kansas Edwards Campus in Overland Park and the KU Medical Center.
Commissioner Ed Peterson said the one-eighth-cent sales tax for funding goes against the traditional method of using mill levies for education financing because it would be a shift to a permanent sales tax.
“I’ve spent some time doing a little bit of background research on it. I’m in favor of the general concept of developing our bioscience capabilities and that industry. I think that is a worthwhile effort to support,” Peterson said. “I have some concern about the details about what we are actually developing or acquiring through this tax and I need to get those concerns resolved. I also have some concern whether an indefinite sales tax is an appropriate mechanism for financing this.”
Peterson said the current quarter-cent sales tax used to support K-12 education “was viewed as a temporary bridge to better state financing.”
“Part of what we are being asked to do with this tax is to fund the construction and operation of facilities,” he said. “Should we have an indefinite sales tax when we know these facilities and construction eventually gets paid off? True the operating expenses continue, but they are generally not as high as the construction costs.”
Surbaugh said she expects the presentation at Thursday’s meeting will address how the triangle will work and how funds will be used.
Peterson said he believes Johnson County voters would support the research triangle on the ballot in November because the triangle is education-oriented and could be an economic development stimulus.
Surbaugh said both sides of the issue have spoken out and that some pundits believe the vote could be very close.
“Elections are very unpredictable these days,” she said. “Our economy is certainly an issue; I consider that an issue for the sales tax as well.”