Johnson County Board to Vote on Tax for Research Triangle

By Elana Gordon

Kansas City, MO – The Johnson County Board of Commissioners is expected to reach a final decision today on whether to put a proposed 1/8 cent sales tax for science education and research on the November ballot. If ultimately approved, the revenue would create a national food and Animal Health Institute in Olathe, expand engineering, science, and math programs at KU's Edwards Campus, and build a cancer clinical research center in Fairway. County Board Chairman Anna Beth Surbaugh says she's in favor of putting the tax proposal on the ballot.

Surbaugh: But it's up to the people to decide if they want to vote to on a sales tax to spend on something as unique and different and special as this.

Surbaugh says the board will take public comments before casting their final votes today.

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