Voters reject JoCo town’s park plan. With COVID-19 threatening revenue, it’s on hold
De Soto Mayor Rick Walker said he was disappointed that voters on Tuesday rejected a proposed bond issue for a long-planned citywide park improvement plan.
But even if the $3.3 million bond issue were approved, Walker said officials would have had to seriously reconsider whether the project is still feasible as the coronavirus pandemic threatens city revenue.
Some officials worry the metrowide stay-at-home order that took effect Tuesday will cut into consumer spending and residents’ incomes, which could lead to plunging revenues from sales and income taxes.
“I’m thinking sales tax will be hit pretty hard,” Walker said. “But right now people are buying stuff like crazy, so we’ll have to see. I think it will definitely slow us down in the long term. Projects we’ve identified will be implemented quite a bit slower.”
De Soto could be an early example of how cities across the metro may begin rethinking priorities as resources are poured into preventing the further spread of COVID-19.
As the virus began spreading in the area and officials began issuing restrictions, voters in the northwest Johnson County town of De Soto mailed in ballots as usual for the bond election — albeit with the warning not to lick envelopes.
According to the election office, 51.6% of De Soto voters rejected the city’s plan. Nearly 36%, or 1,278 eligible voters, participated.
The project, which officials began planning in 2018, would have paid for land to build a soccer complex, connector trails along many main roads, playground equipment, restrooms, sewer work and more. City officials have explored grant funding and other options, but are unsure about the future of the project without the bonds.
Now, along with other cities in the metro area, De Soto is grappling with coronavirus overturning nearly every facet of life — from businesses and public facilities closing to City Council meetings now taking place over conference calls.
“I just want people to take the stay-at-home order seriously so that we can stop the spread now, but hopefully also reduce the amount of time that our normal lives are disrupted,” Walker said.
The Johnson County Election Office announced the mail-in ballot results on Tuesday. But administrator Nathan Carter said the office cannot conduct the required canvass of the election as it normally would, due to concerns over coronavirus spreading. Instead, officials are planning an unusual virtual canvass of the election to ensure every vote is counted.
The election office will soon announce more details about how the public can view the virtual canvass of the De Soto election at 9 a.m. Monday.
This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 6:18 PM.
