Prairie Village Council Says No To Parks Tax Referendum

There will be no November vote in Prairie Village on a proposed sales tax to benefit parks. The City Council has killed the issue on a vote of 6 to 5.

It was historic, that a local tax referendum even be considered by a Prairie Village City Council, in the memory of Mayor Ron Shaffer,“I’ve been there 23 years as a council member and as a mayor.”

Shaffer, Mayor since 1999, said,  “My recollection, this is the only time that we have ever considered taking a vote to the public for any type of an issue such as this.”

The proposal would have allowed voters to decide a 3/8-percent sales tax to raise about $750,000 a year.

Most of the funds would have been used for a parks master plan, the rest to maintain, operate or acquire parks and green space.

Shaffer said he thinks anti-tax sentiments by residents drove down the proposal.

He was in the minority asking for public vote.

Two parks have recently had major renovations and Shaffer said he had hoped for similar treatment of others.

Some residents have complained of having portable toilets in at least one Prairie Village park, considering it unsafe for children.