City of Valley Center — 1% Sales Tax for Public Safety (Sedgwick County)

What it does

Shall the City of Valley Center, Kansas, be authorized to impose a one percent (1%) Citywide retailers' sales tax, the revenue from which will be used to enhance public safety services, including fire and police operations, capital improvements, equipment, and maintenance within the City and all improvements related thereto (“Public Safety Purposes”), including payment of debt service on financings issued for Public Safety Purposes, with the collection of such sales tax to commence on April 1, 2027, or as soon thereafter as permitted by law, and continue in effect until it is repealed by the Governing Body; all pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 12‑187 et seq., as amended?

A YES vote means

Valley Center could impose a 1% citywide sales tax starting April 1, 2027 for fire and police operations, equipment and improvements, including related debt, lasting until the city repeals it.

A NO vote means

Valley Center would not impose this 1% public safety sales tax.

What it would cost

1% sales tax: $1 on a $100 taxable purchase. It would continue a tax already in place rather than add a new one.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

According to the election notice, the tax would start April 1, 2027 and stay in effect until the governing body repeals it, and the money could also pay debt service on public-safety borrowing.

Fire Apparatus Magazine reported that in August 2026 the City Council voted 6–2 to keep and expand the city's own fire department rather than contract with Sedgwick County Fire District 1, then voted 6–2 to put the 1% sales tax on the ballot to help pay for the expansion.

The tax would raise an estimated $950,000 a year and bring Valley Center's sales tax to 9.5%, the highest in Sedgwick County, according to the same report, which said a motion to delay the vote until March was defeated.

Put on the ballot by Valley Center City Council, 6–2, August 2026 (per Fire Apparatus Magazine; city minutes not found).

From official source.

In the news

• Valley Center (KS) Keeps Its Fire Department, Faces Funding and Staffing Questions · Fire Apparatus Magazine

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on Sedgwick County ballots

• City of Andale — 1% Retailers' Sales Tax

All Sedgwick County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on City of Valley Center mean?

Valley Center could impose a 1% citywide sales tax starting April 1, 2027 for fire and police operations, equipment and improvements, including related debt, lasting until the city repeals it.

What does a NO vote on City of Valley Center mean?

Valley Center would not impose this 1% public safety sales tax.

How many votes does City of Valley Center need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on City of Valley Center?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.