A vote of the people will be held this November to determine if Riley County shall impose a Half-Cent Sales Tax for Roads, Bridges and Culverts in Riley County and Economic Development in the City of Manhattan.

The Riley County Commissioners held a Special Meeting Wednesday and voted 3-0 to put the question to the voters of Riley County.

The Commissioners had a lot to say before the vote, most was a plea to the Pottawatomie County Commission to add a Half-Cent Sales Tax to help with economic development in Manhattan and Pottawatomie County.

Commissioners Bob Newsome, Alvan Johnson and Russ Frey all expressed concern that Manhattan could use Riley County tax money in Pottawatomie County.

The Commissioners like the fact that the question had been changed by County Counselor Stan Morgan that will give the Riley County Commission final say in any money spent out side of Riley County.

Morgan told the Commission that he had added: "such revenue may be used for economic development initiatives that occur outside of Riley County, if the Governing Body of the City determines that Riley County will benefit from such initiatives, and the Board of Riley County Commissioners agree, in writing, with such determination."

At the Tuesday night Manhattan City Commission meeting the Commissioners passed an ordinance that agrees with Riley County Commission having the final say in out of county spending.

The City approved: "Section 1. The City of Manhattan, Kansas, hereby pledges that any revenue received by the City from a countywide sales tax imposed by Riley County, pursuant to an election held in November, 2002, shall be used for economic development initiatives, that occur within Riley County, except as set forth hereinafter, and which benefit the City of Manhattan, Kansas, as determined, and authorized, by the Governing Body of the City. Provided, however, such revenue may be used for economic development initiatives, that occur outside of Riley County, if the Governing Body of the City determines that Riley County will benefit from such initiatives, and the Board of Riley County Commissioners agree, in writing, with such determination.

That Is The Question:
 

Shall the following be adopted?

Shall a countywide retailers’ sales tax in the amount of one-half of one percent (.5%) (the "Sales Tax") be levied in Riley County, Kansas (the "County"), to take effect when the County’s current one-half of one percent (.5%) sales tax levied by Resolution No. 051997-15 expires in accordance with K.S.A. 12-187(b)(2), with the proceeds of the Sales Tax distributed to the County and the cities located within the County as required by law and used: (i) by the County to pay the costs of developing, improving, and maintaining the system of roads, bridges and culverts located in the County, (ii) by the City of Manhattan for economic development initiatives that occur within Riley County, and which benefit the City of Manhattan, Kansas, as determined and authorized by the Governing Body of the City; provided, however, such revenue may be used for economic development initiatives that occur outside of Riley County, if the Governing Body of the City determines that Riley County will benefit from such initiatives, and the Board of Riley County Commissioners agree, in writing, with such determination, and (iii) the proceeds distributed to other cities within the County will be used as those cities determine to be in their best interests, provided further that, the question of continuing the Sales Tax shall be submitted to the electors of the County at the general election held in 2012, all pursuant to K.S.A. 12-187 et seq., as amended?