Voters went to the polls Tuesday looking at a number of tax questions including a 1% sales tax in Wichita and several school bond issues across the state.
While the majority of the school bond elections passed, several high-profile questions failed, as did the Wichita sales tax.
Wichita voters rejected the 1% sales tax more than 4-1, with 41,097 voting against the measure and 9,143 voting in favor. Voter turnout approached 20%.
The Wichita city council had rushed the measure forward with open-ended language that only seemed to obligate the city to spend the $850 million the tax was expected to raise over 7 years on specific line items, but phrasing such as “an amount not to exceed” left how the money would actually have been spent wide open.
Lansing dual bond issue fails
According to KSHB-TV of Kansas City, the Lansing school district had put forward two bond issues that the district said were needed to repair aging facilities at USD 469.
Question one, to raise $30 million toward improvements such as HVAC systems, roofs, parking lots and tennis courts failed 1,579 to 1,095.
Question two, which would have raised $5 million toward sports field improvements, also failed, falling 1,779 to 890.
Russell bond issue rejected
Russell has not had a bond issue approved in 67 years, according to KSN, and the most recent attempt by USD 407 failed 1,000 to 540. The district was asking for $13.5 million for “safety and security,” improvements, HVAC and plumbing improvements, Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and other improvements.
Wellington voters reject bond for second time
USD 353 Wellington voters shot down a $17.85 million bond issue by a slim margin — 50.7% to 49.3% — which would have gone to “improvements and upgrades district-wide” according to KSN. The question was a pared-down version of a bond that failed in November.
Olathe bond passes
According to KCTV, Olathe voters approved a $389 million bond with unofficial results showing the issue passed 63% to 37%.
“At $389 million, Bond 2026 represents the largest school bond in Olathe’s history,” KCTV reported. “The proposal would make improvements district-wide, build three new schools, and consolidate existing ones in response to declining enrollment and aging infrastructure.”
According to KCTV, after peaking at 30,216 students in 2019. Since then the district has lost more than 1,700 students over the last six years — about 300 a year — a trend that is expected to continue for at least 15 years.
Other statewide results
Bond issues in McPherson, Newton and Dighton all passed Tuesday night. Additionally, the Plainville and Rock Hills districts both had two bonds on the ballot and each had one pass and one fail.
