City Releases Use Tax Funded Pathways Plan

The City of Kearney released a plan and rendering of pathways it plans to create and repair if residents vote to implement the Kearney Ballot Question on November 2. The ballot question is an initiative to collect sales tax from out-of-state, online businesses.

The tax money from out-of-state sales would go to a city plan to boost funding for police, pets, parks and pathways. A use tax of 3% would only be collected on goods purchased from out-of-state vendors who are currently not paying local sales tax. 

The purpose of the pathways part of the whole use tax plan is to provide a funding source for gaps in sidewalks and trail connections. According to the city’s website, “filling in these gaps will provide safe routes for kids to walk or bike to school, will better connect neighborhoods to our existing trails and parks, and will allow people to walk along major corridors north-south and east-west through town.”  The first project on the list is connecting the Cottonwood Creek and Hills of Westwood subdivisions along Nation Road.

Future pathway projects include a connection to Mack Porter Park, 92 Highway extension, North Jefferson extension, as well as connections and crosswalks around town.

Approximately half of all Missouri cities with populations of 2,000 or more already have a Use Tax in place. Neighboring cities with a Use Tax include Liberty, Gladstone, Smithville and Excelsior Springs. Clay County also has a county use tax.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story