That state legislators are dictating whether individual cities can levy a sales tax is really sticking in Cole Herder’s craw.
“It’s almost more important to me philosophically, than what the actual difference may mean,” said Herder, Humboldt city administrator.
In late February, the Kansas Senate passed a measure, Senate Bill 248, that eliminates the collection of sales taxes on food for cities and counties as well as that charged by the state.
The difference to Humboldt would be about $52,000 garnered from its 1.75% sales tax on designated grocery items. Humboldt collected $462,000 in sales tax revenues for 2022.
While that may appear negligible, the fact that state legislators can order such a change goes against the people’s will, Herder said.
“It’s not good policy. The people of Humboldt voted to have that tax, and now you have legislators who may not even know where Humboldt is, telling them they are going to cancel that election.
“The local people made that decision because they want a swimming pool, good streets and all the other things that our taxes support.”
“It seems we are constantly fighting for local control,” Herder said.
“You can be certain state lawmakers wouldn’t like it if the federal government came in and said they’re going to cancel the results of a statewide election.”
On Thursday, Herder learned the measure had been tabled in the House Committee on Taxation, meaning no further action would ensue and the current stair-step reduction in state taxes on food sales will remain in place.
In the same vein, Herder is protesting legislation, House Bill 2447, that would prohibit cities from being able to control what is sold either in services or goods.
Herder uses examples of exotic pets or, more pertinently, Humboldt’s current law that forbids large propane gas tanks within city limits.
Humboldt distributes natural gas for citizens to use as a fuel source, avoiding large 1,000-gallon propane tanks placed around town, which Herder considers a health hazard “particularly to our firefighters and first responders.”
“Our system has readily accessible shutoffs to mitigate home explosions. The inability to regulate the sale of bulk propane is a serious hazard,” he said.
Again, Herder sees this legislation as government overreach.
