Sales Tax Renewal Opportunity

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Street Maintenance Sales Tax (SMST) and Parks Sales Tax

In April 2023 Olathe residents will have the opportunity to renew the Street Maintenance Sales Tax (SMST) and the Parks Sales Tax. Both sales tax measures are the main vehicle for funding in their respective area.

The 3/8 cent SMST was approved by Olathe voters in 2013. Nearly 70% of street maintenance projects have been funded by the SMST from 2014-22.
The1/8 cent Parks Sales Tax was approved by Olathe voters in 1999 and renewed in 2004 and 2014. This is the primary fund for construction and maintenance of trails and recreation amenities.
Without renewal, the SMST sunsets March 31, 2024 and the Parks Sales Tax sunsets March 31, 2025.

The ballot will contain two separate questions regarding renewal of each sales tax. This opportunity provides transparency to residents by allowing renewal for sales tax liability on one ballot, rather than separate elections in following years and cost-effective use of taxpayer dollars by having one election cycle.

Voters will be asked to renew current sales tax support for the SMST and Parks Sales Tax. These separate sales tax provides respective funding for the ongoing maintenance for our growing road network and maintenance and refresh for Olathe’s award-winning parks and trails system.

Read the ballot language:

Key Dates
Dec. 6	Presented to Council/Ballot language approved
Dec. 26 or later	Submitted to Johnson County Election Board
April 4	Last day to register to vote
April 5	Ballots mailed
April 25 by 12 p.m.	Ballots due

Street Maintenance Sales Tax (SMST) Information

From the 2014 voter approval of the SMST through 2021, nearly 70% of street maintenance projects were funded by the SMST. Every $1 invested today saves $8 in future reconstruction costs tomorrow.

The current 10-year 3/8th cent sales tax is set to sunset in spring 2024. Because of the investment made by Olathe residents through approval of this sales tax, a total of 905 lane miles have been preserved from 2014-2021 through various street maintenance processes, such as mill and overlay, microsurfacing, crack seal, and curb replacement. In the 10-year period prior to the SMST, 138.7 total lane miles were preserved.

2013 Street Maintenance Sales Tax Process

Mail-In ballots were mailed in late October of 2013 with Election Day on November 12. The 3/8th sales tax was approved by a 60% majority vote. Collection of sales tax began on April 1, 2014.

Investing in Your Neighborhood

Funding from the SMST has allowed City crews to make a big impact with neighborhood streets. Without SMST, the focus is largely on heavily traveled arterial roads.

Continued Investment in Street Maintenance

Maintenance of streets continues to be a top priority for our residents. 2022 DirectionFinder results show it was the second highest priority for city services which residents wanted to see the most emphasis.

Why Preservation Pays Off

From 2014-2021, nearly 70% of street maintenance projects were funded by the SMST. For every $1 we spend on road preservation now, the cost will rise to $8 if delayed.

Investing in Your Neighborhood Streets

Preservation keeps good streets in good condition
A growing community means a growing number of streets
Street preservation is a program, not a project.

Total Street Preservation Program Expenditures by Project Type 2014-2022
Type	Total Expenditures	SMST Expenditures	% SMST Funded
Arterial Mill & Overlay	$58,251,612.00	$37,617,652.07	64.58%
Local and Collector Mill & Overlay	$50,787,988.58	$40,457,489.96	79.66%
Surface Treatment (MAQS Micro)	$17,699,409.87	$15,965,921.94	90.21%
Street Maintenance Curb Replacement*	$2,443,813.81	$2,430,945.10	99.47%
Street Maintenance Crack Seal*	$1,234,467.48	$1,227,411.32	99.43%
Total	$130,417,291.74	$97,699,420.39	74.91%
* Materials Only Costs from SMST, Labor and Equipment costs are paid from St. Maint. Operation Budget

SMST Annual Reports (2014-2021)

Parks Sales Tax Information

City of Olathe Parks & Recreation not only maintains our parks, but our quality of life, supporting the health of families, the environment, and the economy. Residents highly regard their public places for outdoor an indoor activities and recreation opportunities, according to the 2021 DirectionFinder® resident survey.

2014 Parks & Recreation Sales Tax Results

The Parks & Recreation Department uses the 1/8 cent Parks Sales Tax to develop and maintain Olathe parks, recreation facilities, and trails.

The 2014 Olathe Parks Sales Tax voter renewal has provided more than 25 improvement projects in all parts of the City.

Benefits of the tax include:

Olathe Community Center
Improvements at Lake Olathe
Improvements to Meadow Lane Trail and Cedar Creek Trail
New and refreshed neighborhood and community parks

Connect. Refresh. Renew.

New park construction and major park refreshes using voter approved 2014 Parks & Recreation Sales Tax funds include:

Lake Olathe
Stagecoach Park
Lone Elm Park
Frisco Lake Park
Civic Center Park
Pellett Park
Indian Creek Park
Woodland Hills Park

Repairs and refreshes occurred at:

Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm
Cedar Lake
Calamity Line Park
Raven Ridge Park
Cory Circle Park
Arbor Landing Park
Oregon Trail Park
Prairie Center Park
Santa Marta Park
Mill Creek Park
Heatherstone Park
Haven Park
Fairview Park
Hampton Park

Approximately five trail miles were built on Meadow Lane Trail, Cedar Lake Trail, and Boulder Creek Trail.

Park Sales Tax Revenues by year
Year	Total Revenues	CIP Total
2023	$896,628.52	$4,772,500.00
2022	$5,400,553.99	$2,000,000.00
2021	$4,868,638.23	$1,300,000.00
2020	$3,955,736.36	$2,234,000.00
2019	$4,444,804.52	$4,130,000.00
2018	$3,930,334.53	$3,382,000.00
2017	$3,922,273.06	$2,586,750.00
2016	$3,928,979.73	$3,506,394.00
2015	$3,522,120.70	$1,400,000.00
2014	$3,259,575.37	$3,000,000.00
Total	$38,129,645.01	$28,311,644.00