ShawneeDispatch.com

A 1/8th-cent sales tax to fund projects and programs for the Johnson County Education Research Triangle Authority will become effective on April 1, 2009.

A resolution to adopt and levy the sales tax was approved Thursday by the Johnson County Commission. By state law, the tax becomes effective at the end of the next calendar quarter.

The action follows voter approval Nov. 4 of countywide Question No. 2 regarding creation of the Education Research Triangle Authority and authorization of the proposed sales tax. The question was approved by 57 percent of the voters, 154,360-115,917.

Legislation passed by the 2007 Kansas Legislature authorized the county to propose funding for the authority by a levy up to 2 mills or a sales tax up to 0.2 percent, or both. The November ballot question proposed a 1/8th-cent sales tax. The tax is expected to raise approximately $15 million per year. There is no sunset on the tax.

Proceeds from the tax will support education and research projects and programs at facilities now located or proposed for construction or acquisition in Johnson County, including: Kansas University’s Edwards Campus Business, Engineering, Science and Technology Center in Overland Park; Kansas State University’s Innovation Campus National Food and Animal Health Institute in Olathe; and, KU’s Cancer Clinical Research Center in Fairway.

The sales tax revenues will be equally divided among the three institutions.

The Johnson County Education Research Triangle Authority is a board composed of seven members who must be elected officials in Johnson County. Members of the authority will be appointed by the governor, the Kansas Board of Regents, the Board of County Commissioners, KU, KSU, and Johnson County Community College. The Board of Regents will maintain its constitutional authority over the universities.

In separate actions, the County Commission affirmed the creation of the authority and established a special fund for proceeds from the sales tax imposed for support of the authority. Members also appointed Chairman Annabeth Surbaugh to serve as the county’s representative to the authority.

The state of Kansas and Johnson County both have the authority to audit the Triangle authority at any time. The authority also will have a regular, independent audit.

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