Topeka City Manager says the sales tax proposal so far – Wibw

Topeka, Kan. (WIBW) – Topeka D -R Robert Perez City Manager said the proposal for sales tax to strengthen the city budget has been detained so far.

Perez provided the update during a visit to the NO Kansas eye. He said the decision to delay potential actions follows feedback from Community members.

The city is faced with estimated $ 17 million deficits for 2026 and $ 21 million in 2027. Perez has offered a half -cent sales tax to generate $ 19 million to fill the gap.

Several people talked against the idea of ​​the governing body meeting on February 4, saying that it had unjustified to the people who could afford it at least.

Perez said on Monday that the managing authority requested extra time to hold a deep budget diving to see where additional savings could be realized.

“I believe it is probably not the right time to bring (the sales tax proposal),” Perez said. “There are definitely some things that we need to attach and we have to show the community we are performing, such a sale of the Topeka Hotel. This is definitely one of my priorities this year. But then there are some reductions and efficiency that we probably need to accept. “

However, he said that this did not mean that he may not return to the sales tax proposal in the future.

“This sales tax is not only about increasing current operations, but also … the vision is to fund things that we currently have no funding for such homes at affordable prices, as well as for efforts for homelessness,” He said.

In the situation with the Topeka Hotel, Perez said they continue to check six offers they received to buy the property. He said he hoped to have something viable to present to the Municipal Council to consider in the second quarter of the year. He said the city should guarantee that it has the best proposal for the community and is confident that one of the proposals corresponds to the bill.

With another winter storm on the horizon, Perez also updated how to prepare the city of Topeka. He said he was underway before treatment.

Perez reminded everyone that the city only clears the residential streets for snowfall accumulations, more than six inches. If that should happen, he said the city had learned from the January blizzard. He said they had joined a second tractor, which would double the number of smaller trucks available for clearing operation. He said they also continue to investigate GPS and plows GPS, but this will not be introduced in time for the snow this week.

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