Johnson County Voters Approve Education And Research Triangle

Johnson County, Kansas – Johnson County will be putting more resources into area research and education. That's following yesterday's approval of a one eighth cent sales tax. KCUR's Elana Gordon has more.

Backers of the Johnson County Education and Research Triangle met at a hotel last night in Overland Park, where they politely applauded the approval of a permanent tax to finance projects at K State, the University of Kansas, and KU Medical Center.

Mary Birch coordinated the campaign and says the county's move to support the projects will boost economic development and bring more funding to the area. Birch says, "So ultimately, this word's going to get out and you're going to see both private and public grant money flow into this community in preparation for us to open these facilities."

The estimated $15 million in annual revenue from the tax will specifically pay for the construction of a national food and animal health institute, a business engineering and technology program, and a clinical cancer research center. The tax kicks in early next year, and project leaders say the three facilities are expected to be up and running within next two years.