Johnson County Delays Public Safety Tax Renewal

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, responding to a request from State Senator Mike Thompson, issued an opinion warning that Johnson County's proposed renewal of a 1/4-cent public safety sales tax may exceed legal authority because it includes funding for mental health and emergency medical services, which are not considered public safety projects under state law. The tax, originally approved in 2016 and set to expire in 2027, raises approximately $54 million annually. Kobach's opinion asserts that only certain facility-related public safety projects qualify for such tax funding. Johnson County officials have acknowledged the non-binding opinion and are reviewing it, while noting the potential for court challenges. In light of the opinion and the impending deadline for sending ballots to overseas voters, the county is delaying the ballot measure. The situation has sparked debate over the scope of public safety funding and county fiscal responsibility.