Ark Valley News - End to double tax in senator’s hands

End to double tax in senator’s hands
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: December 28, 2017

Some taxpayers in Valley Center are paying for two cemeteries.

City leaders want that to end, but know it would take an act of the Kansas Legislature to make it happen.

Mayor Laurie Dove said this week that the request to do just that has been presented to state Sen. Carolyn McGinn.

“Now it's in her hands," Dove told the city council during a meeting Dec. 19.

The city council earlier this year agreed that the special tax property owners in the northwest part of the city pay for Hillside Cemetery should be phased out because those same property owners have paid general city taxes that support Valley Center's cemetery since 2004.

Dove said the council suggested that the additional Hillside Cemetery tax be phased out over three to five years.

Rep. Steve Huebert introduced legislation early this year that would have ended the tax immediately. It passed the House, but died in a Senate committee.

McGinn has said Hillside Cemetery has come to rely on the revenue over the years and any changes should be phased in, not implemented immediately.

The compromise is three to five years.

The Hillside Cemetery tax this year was 2.173 mills. With that levy, the owner of a $150,000 home in the Hillside Cemetery District paid about $37 in taxes.

While not a large amount, the total revenue for the Hillside Cemetery board was substantial, equaling about 45 percent of its annual tax revenue.

Hillside Cemetery is located north of 125th North in Sedgwick. Valley Center's cemetery, which has been open for 13 years, is located on Meridian just north of Valley Center High School.

In other business Dec. 19, the council:

•Watched LeRoy Cammerer, commander of the American Legion Post 73, recognize Neal Owings, director of parks and public buildings; Toby Clark, public works employee; and Scott Hildebrand, city administrator, for their assistance in setting up the avenue of flags for Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

•Approved the re-appointment of Casey Carlson and Mike Bonner to two-year terms on the Valley Center Economic Board.

•Approved the appointment of Christina House to the library board, serving the unexpired term of Jean Jones, who moved out of state.

•Approved the appointment of Kelsey Parker to the planning and zoning board.

Council members Marci Maschino, Jake Jackson and Ben Anderson were not at the meeting.