Sedgwick County Commissioners have delayed action until November on a proposed resolution that deals with the funding of programs and services that are not considered to be “core” functions of county government.

Commissioner Jim Howell proposed the resolution to ensure that spending on “quality of life” issues such as cultural arts and recreation will not exceed 50 percent of revenues  from a one-cent sales tax that has been in place since the 1980s.   The county has to use half of the sales tax revenues for bridges and roads, and the other half can be used for property tax relief.    Howell said this will ensure that property tax funds will go to the “core” areas such as public safety and roads, and they will not be used for quality of life areas, with exceptions for staffing and county-owned buildings.   He said this will actually protect quality of life spending, by designating sales taxes as the revenue stream for  areas such as Exploration Place, and the Sedgwick County Zoo.

Commissioners Pete Meitzner and David Dennis said they have questions about the resolution and they want a staff report along with public input and feedback from the affected agencies.   They also said there have been discussions about a sales tax to fund quality of life functions but that is not ready to be brought forward.   Commissioners agreed to delay action on the resolution no later than their November 13th meeting.