Kansas Citians approve health care levy, sewer bond issue by overwhelming margins
Kansas Citians overwhelmingly approved all three questions on Tuesday’s ballot, including the extension of a health care levy that serves tens of thousands of residents.
Question 1: Sewers
Voters approved issuance of $750 million in bonds for “rehabilitating, expanding and improving” the city’s sewer system. These repairs will keep the city in line with EPA requirements.
Approval gives the city permission to sell revenue bonds to pay for these upgrades. Investors would buy these bonds with the assurance that the city will pay them back over time using money from sewer utility bills.
The question passed by better than a 4-to-1 margin.
Question 2: Health care levy
Every nine years, voters are asked to renew a tax that helps fund ambulance services and nonprofit health centers, benefiting about 89,000 residents annually, according to the city.
Kansas Citians again voted yes to the tax at its current rate of 22 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for the next nine years. The majority of this money will continue going to University Health, with the remainder funding other local clinics like Samuel Rodgers Health Center and Swope Health.
The tax, first approved by voters in 2005, helps support health care for the working poor and the uninsured. Services include prenatal and pediatric clinics, oral health services, mental health services and emergency care.
Frontline healthcare workers, faith leaders, community activists and union leaders have rallied in support of extending the levy.
The question passed by better than a 3-to-1 margin.
Question 3: Park property
Voters have elected to remove a piece of vacant land spanning just about seven acres on the west side of Searcy Creek Parkway from parks department jurisdiction after officials determined it isn’t a good location for a new park or public space.
The question by nearly a 3-to-1 margin.
The Star’s Robert A. Cronkleton and Natalie Wallington contributed.
This story was originally published April 5, 2022 at 9:33 PM.
