The results are in from the Tuesday, November 6 election, and residents of Kansas City voted "yes" to renew a one cent sales tax for the next ten years. The money from this one cent sales tax will continue to go towards funding city projects such as road construction and repair, park reconstruction, and curb and sidewalk repair.

The one cent sales tax would have expired on December 31, 2008. Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser and many other civic leaders wanted to ensure it continued, so voting for the tax was held this past November 6, instead of waiting for next year.

Since the vote was for renewal of an already existing sales tax, Kansas City residents will not be paying any more money on city taxes than they currently do.

The money will be split, with 50% will go towards road construction, park reconstruction, and curb and sidewalk repair; 35% equally divided for neighborhood projects; the remaining 15% for capital maintenance.

Now set to expire December 31, 2018, the tax passed with 78% of the vote. Those at the polls obviously understood the importance of this tax, and what might happen to our city without it.

Less than 12% of registered voters actually presented themselves at the polls to vote on this tax, possibly the only glum thing about its renewal.

Many streets and neighborhoods conspicuously need repair, but when it comes to improving the look of our city streets, progress has always seemed to come at a snail's pace. Kansas City residents hope with the renewal of the sales tax and ensuing debate over expenditures, city government will get to work swiftly on plans for improving our city.

During the next five years, Kansas City will have several major infrastructure advancements to focus on. Among those projects are plans to improve the downtown streetscape, and the 18th street connector for the Crossroads district.

For more information on the sales tax renewal, visit http://www.kansascity.com, http://mobikefed.org, or http://www.kcmo.org.

Copyright 2007 Metropolitan Community College