<table> </table> Sales taxes have become the go-to funding choice for almost all local governments. Want proof?</p><p>By this time next year, the tax rate in Kansas City south of the Missouri River could jump 1 percent to &#8212; hold your breath &#8212; 8.725 percent with the approval of pending tax hikes.</p><p>In Johnson County, the tax rate by 2009 could hit 8.05 percent in Leawood and 8.025 percent in Lenexa and Gardner.</p><p><em>How times have changed: </em>Most Missouri-side cities charged just 6.6 percent in sales taxes in 1997.</p><p>But that was before the great rush among area politicians to embrace sales taxes, which pay for many useful projects and services.</p><p>Want better bus service? Pass a sales tax in Kansas City.</p><p>Want an improved Truman Sports Complex? Approve a sales tax in Jackson County.</p><p>Want better schools in Johnson County? New police stations in Kansas City? Better parks in Platte County?</p><p>Yes, sales taxes are paying for all that, as well as much more in the area.</p><p>And don&#8217;t forget the add-ons such as restaurant taxes, hotel taxes and extra sales taxes in shopping districts such as SummitWoods Crossing in Lee&#8217;s Summit.</p><p>For instance, customers pay just under 10 percent in total sales taxes at most restaurants in Kansas City, and 15.225 percent at most hotels in the city. Those hotel taxes support Bartle Hall expansions and tourism-attraction efforts.</p><p>So is there any respite for the sales-tax weary?</p><p>Nope, based on the confirmed and potential elections in coming months.</p><p>&#8226; In Lenexa, officials will know next week whether voters have approved a three-eighths-cent increase for parks and roads.</p><p>&#8226; In Johnson County, officials will ask voters in August to endorse a quarter-cent tax for public safety. It would replace an expiring tax for public education.</p><p>&#8226; Johnson County commissioners are leaning toward placing a one-eighth-cent tax increase on the November ballot for higher-education research facilities.</p><p>&#8226; In Kansas City, voters in November likely will face a new tax for light rail; it could range from a quarter-cent to a half-cent.</p><p>&#8226; A citizens task force in Kansas City has tentatively backed a half-cent increase to pay for stormwater repairs.</p><p>Unfortunately, the practice of placing sunsets on sales taxes is waning.</p><p>Both of Johnson County&#8217;s proposed taxes would last forever, for instance. Kansas City&#8217;s light-rail tax likely would extend 25 years.</p><p>This movement should concern taxpayers. Sunsets give them the power to hold elected officials accountable for the use of public funds.</p><p>Of course, sales-tax rates usually don&#8217;t go down.</p><p>The tax for public schools in Johnson County was approved for just three years in both 2002 and 2005. Yet now that the tax is expiring, the county wants it to continue for public safety projects.</p><p>In Kansas City, voters endorsed a three-eighths-cent tax for buses in 2003, to last five years. This spring, voters were asked to back a 15-year extension; they agreed.</p><p>But wait. Maybe there is some hope for taxpayers.</p><p>Lenexa Mayor Michael Boehm said last week that his city has &#8220;no intention&#8221; of asking residents to renew the one-eighth-cent tax for stormwater projects after it expires in 2010.</p><p>Could this be the start of a trend among local officials?</p><p>Probably not. Especially given their appetite for sales-tax revenue and the never-ending ways to spend it.</p><p>&#9733; Now, on a personal note:</p><p>My daughter Emily graduated this week with many friends from Raytown High School. Rather than risk irritating her by recounting her entire life up until now (starting with how I used to carry her like a football around the house in the overnight hours when she was a colicky 6-month-old, and then going on and on from there), let this suffice:</p><p>Congratulations on all your achievements, good luck at the University of Oklahoma and, of course, love, Dad.