The city of Wichita will hold a special 1% sales tax election March 3. Voting is open to voters who live within the city limits. Registration to vote in the election runs through Feb. 10.
Voters can vote from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 3. Early in-person voting is available at the Sedgwick County Election Office, 510 N. Main, during regular business hours from Feb. 17 through noon on March 2. Voters who wish to vote by mail must submit applications by Feb. 24. Applications can be found at sedgwickcounty.org/elections.
Here is the ballot question:
PROPOSITION NO. 1 – CITY-WIDE RETAILERS’ SALES TAX
Shall the following be adopted?
1. Shall the City of Wichita, Kansas, be authorized, pursuant to S.A. 12-187 et seq., to impose a one percent (1.0%) city-wide retailers’ sales tax to be effective July 1, 2026, and which will terminate no later than June 30, 2033, the revenues derived therefrom to be applied as follows?
a. An amount not to exceed $225 million dollars of such tax applied to Public Safety costs for support of City police and fire facility construction and maintenance, the acquisition of vehicles, apparatus and equipment and other purposes related to providing Police and Fire Services for the City;
b. An amount not to exceed $250 million dollars of such tax applied to pay the costs for Revitalization of Century II (not to exceed $25 Million) and Upgraded and Expanded Convention Center Improvements (not to exceed $225 Million);
c. An amount not to exceed $150 million dollars of such tax applied for Property Tax Relief;
d. An amount not to exceed $150 million dollars of such tax applied to establish a restricted-special fund, with earnings from such fund to be reinvested into this special fund, to support Homeless and Housing Services by funding affordable housing projects and programs, shelter facilities, a multi-agency center and its operations and related services for people experiencing homelessness; and
An amount not to exceed $75 million dollars of such tax applied for Development and Construction of a New Downtown Public Performing Arts Center.
Polling places changed
Eleven polling sites have been temporarily reassigned for the special election. The original polling sites, reassigned precincts and temporary polling locations are:
Calvary Baptist — 246 precinct to Southeast High, 338 precinct to Colonial Heights Church
First Baptist Haysville — 317 precinct to Colonial Heights Church
Goddard Pathway — 544 and 549 precincts to Evangel Presbyterian
Maize City Building — 528 precinct to Life Church
Westlink Church of Christ — 402 precinct to Westwood Presbyterian, 519 precinct to West Evangelical Free, 522 precinct to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Heart of Christ Church — 104, 105, 129 and 130 precincts to Linwood Recreation Center, 339 precinct to New Hope Church
St. Anne’s Catholic Church — 418 precinct to Alford Branch Library, 419 precinct to Machinist Building
Girl Scouts Office — 102 and 137 precincts to Edgemoor Recreation Center
Grace Presbyterian — 110 precinct to Plymouth Congregational and 128 precinct to Edgemoor Recreation Center
New Life Covenant — 103 precinct to West High, 601 precinct to Riverside Christian, 614 precinct to Ability Point
Holy Cross — 220 and 223 precincts to East Point Church of Christ, 228 precinct to Church of the Magdalen
