Kansas attorney general cautions Johnson County on renewing public safety tax
He warned that the commission exceeded its authority in putting the tax on the November 2025 ballot.
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'Imposing new taxes on the people of Kansas is something that can be done only under tightly limited situations and as specifically allowed by Kansas law,' Kobach said.
'Johnson County is breaking the law by imposing this new tax for this purpose.'
The money raised would fund mental health and emergency medical services.
Kobach's opinion, sought by Kansas Republican Senator Mike Thompson, warned that a court would find the resolution null and void because the tax is really a 'new' tax, not a renewal.
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In a statement, the county said commissioners are reviewing and considering the opinion:
'While the opinion does not carry the force of law and is not binding on courts or other entities, the Board of County Commissioners is reviewing and considering its content.'
The existing quarter-cent Public Safety Sales Tax III was initially approved by Johnson County voters in 2016. It is currently set to expire on March 31, 2027.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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