By Vicky O. Misa

Proposition passes more enthusiastically than first time

A proposition for education funding was decided overwhelmingly in support of Pottawatomie County schools Tuesday.

Voters chose to continue half-cent sales tax collections – making the revenue measure permanent. In 2015 voters had approved the half-cent sales tax for a 10-year period, which is set to end June 2026.

Tuesday’s proposition passed 71.25 percent (2,243 votes in favor) to 28.75 percent (905 votes against) by a count of more than 3,000 ballots. In a much bigger turnout of nearly 5,000 voters in 2015, the similar measure was OK’d, passing 62.84 percent (3,056 votes) in favor of the proposition, compared to 37.16 percent (1,807 votes) in opposition.

The tax is set to be used for “building, transportation, safety, security and technology needs.” And, as before, the funds cannot be used for salaries.

Another big change with Tuesday’s proposal is the discontinuance of funding being collected for the Pottawatomie County One Safe Place Family Justice Center (FJC). A portion of the current tax from 2016 — .005 percent — has been collected for the past nine years and has been used to help “construct, acquire, maintain and operate” the facility.

From the current July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2026, tax collections, the FJC has received close to $400,000 so far. Now, collections of that portion — roughly $3,700 each month — will end for the FJC the middle of next year. This means when the new tax measure begins, the full amount of the collected .00495 sales tax will be split among the schools, boosting them a little extra in collections.