ACC cross country: Red Devil men take conference title.
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THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
FRIGHTFULLY FUN
Hopefuls target food tax By JIM MCLEAN KHI News Service
There is widespread bipartisan support for eliminating or reducing the sales tax on food among candidates for the Kansas Legislature, according to survey results released Monday by an advocacy organization. However, when the winners of next week’s election show up at the Statehouse in January, they may again decide the state can’t afford to do without the revenue the tax generates. KC Healthy Kids sent surveys in late October to candidates running for all 165 seats in the Kansas House and Senate. Each of the more than 80 who responded indicated that they supported reducing or eliminating the sales tax charged on food sold at grocery stores and farmers’ markets. “There is broad and deep awareness of this issue,” said Ashley Jones-Wisner, state policy director for the nonprofit organization. “Lawmakers understand the tax on food in Kansas is out of proportion and something needs to be done.” Only three states have sales tax levies higher than Kansas’ 6.5 percent, but two of them — Minnesota and Washington — exempt food. Mississippi has a sales tax rate of 7 percent and, like Kansas, doesn’t exempt food. State and local sales taxes are increasing the grocery bills of some Kansas consumers by up to 11 percent, Jones-Wisner said. Last session, the Legislature considered but ultimately rejected various proposals to reduce or eliminate the sales tax on food. With revenues regularly coming in below official estimates due to income tax cuts approved in 2012 and recent downturns in key economic sectors, lawmakers concluded they couldn’t afford the estimated $350 million annual cost of the food sales tax exemption. Candidates responding to the KC Healthy Kids survey weren’t asked whether their support for easing the sales tax burden was conditioned on the state’s budget situation.
Rep. Ron Highland
Tax cuts or the economy? By JIM MCLEAN KHI News Service
Out on the campaign trail, there are a couple of competing narratives about what’s going on with the Kansas budget. Both acknowledge that plummeting revenues have delayed road projects, increased the state’s bond debt and forced cuts in higher education, health care and safety net programs for poor Kansans. But that’s where the stories diverge. Moderate Republicans and Democrats running for the Legislature are blaming the 2012 income tax cuts championed by Gov. Sam Brownback for crashing the state budget. Democrat Adrienne Olejnik made that case early and often during a recent candidate forum on Emporia radio station KVOE. “The top priority as we all know is the financial cliff that Kansas is now on,” Olejnik said. “We have to reevaluate the 2012 tax changes because they have proved to be nothing but a disaster for our state.” Olejnik, director of the Rossville Public Library, is just one of the upstart candidates across the state challenging incumbents on this issue. On the surface she looks like a long shot to win the 51st House District, which covers parts of five Flint Hills counties where Republicans outnumber Democrats roughly three to one. But as she knocks on doors, she’s being greeted by a surprising number of Republicans who agree with her about “the mess” in Topeka. “People are frustrated, especially with the LLC exemp-
Spooky, goofy fun filled the halls of Iola’s elementary schools Monday for Halloween. Above, Zoey Guerrero munches on a sugary snack during her kindergarten class’s party at McKinley Elementary School. Also at McKinley, at right, Kashyn Curry, from left, Bailey Sparks, Keaunna Bussell-Willard and Hayden Sparks enjoy Halloween activities. At bottom, a group of Jefferson Elementary School students enjoy a story read aloud by Iolan Robyn Fawson. REGISTER/RICK DANLEY AND SUSAN LYNN
See TAXES | Page A3
Aronson taps undersheriff
Advance voting numbers increase
Mike Aronson, independent candidate for sheriff, announced today Jared Froggatte would be his undersheriff, if he is elected on Nov. 8. Froggatte is a detective with the Iola Police Department. He finished second in the three-man Republican primary election, which was won by incumbent Bryan Murphy. “Froggatte brings the experience, knowledge and ideology the office needs and compli-
The Allen County Clerk’s office is being kept busy in the prelude to the general election. Advance voting is double compared to previous general elections, said Sherrie Riebel, county clerk. Locally, almost 500 ballots have been requested by mail and as of Monday afternoon 380 had cast their votes in the clerk’s office.
Mike Aronson
Jared Froggatte
ments my vision for a stronger and better department,” Aronson told the Register. “He has a wealth of experience in narcotics investigations and brings leadership.
Quote of the day Vol. 119, No. 5
Statewide, advanced voting is up as well. According to the Secretary of State’s office, more than 200,000 votes have been cast for this election, compared to about 150,000 in 2012. Advance voting continues up until noon on Monday. Mail-in ballots must arrive at the clerk’s office by Tuesday, Election Day. Advance voting is in the clerk’s office, second floor of the courthouse.
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— Mark Twain
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