Wichita voters will decide March 8 whether to approve a proposed 1-cent citywide sales tax expected to generate about $850 million over seven years for public safety and housing initiatives, revitalization of Century II and the convention center, property-tax relief and a new performing arts center. The measure would include citizen oversight and annual audits. Early voting began Thurs., Feb. 26.
As part of our continued coverage, Margaret Shabazz and former City Councilmember Brandon Johnson present opposing perspectives on the proposal — outlining the arguments for and against the sales tax before voters cast their ballots.
If you’re not up to date, you can learn more about the measure and its background HERE.
VOTE YES
I want to be clear at the start: I am not anti-growth, and I am not anti-sales tax.
I believe Wichita does need to grow, and I believe a sales tax can be part of that growth.
But tonight, my opposition comes down to one word: trust.
about trust, timing and oversight.
And right now, trust is missing.
I want to spell that out — literally — because every letter matters.
T — Transparency
This sales tax proposal did not come with transparency.
It was introduced suddenly, just one week before the deadline to call a special election.
There was no broad, meaningful public process before it was advanced.
When people are already struggling, transparency isn’t optional — it’s foundational.
R — Representation
This tax requires everyone to pay, but it does not benefit everyone equally.
Whole neighborhoods — particularly historically disinvested areas — do not see themselves reflected in the priorities attached to this tax.
If we are going to ask every household to contribute, then every demographic, every district, every lived experience must have a seat at the table before decisions are made, not after.
U — Use of Funds
We are told this tax will fund many things — public safety, arts, downtown projects, housing.
But some of these items, like fire services, are core services and should already be planned and funded through the Capital Improvement Plan, not pulled out and repackaged to justify a new tax.
That raises legitimate questions about budgeting discipline and long-term planning.
S — Safeguards
Wichita has a history of weak oversight and shifting costs.
We are being asked to trust that this time will be different — but we are not being shown strong, enforceable safeguards that prevent mission creep, cost overruns, or reallocation away from promised uses.
Trust is built with guardrails, not assurances.
T — Timing
Finally, timing matters.
We are being asked to approve this tax in a special March election, at a cost of roughly $170,000, when it could be placed on the August ballot at no additional cost.
At a time when the city says money is tight, spending extra taxpayer dollars just to rush a vote sends the wrong message.
If we’re struggling, we should slow down — not speed past the people.
In closing
This isn’t about saying “no” forever.
It’s about saying not like this.
Before we raise taxes:
- We need trust
- We need representation
- We need clear benefits for every area
- We need strong oversight
- And we need a real public process
For example, we’ve already identified food deserts across our city.
Why aren’t we talking about city-owned grocery stores, or investments that directly lower household costs in underserved areas?
If the city had started by asking communities what they need — and then built a proposal around that — this conversation would look very different.
I want Wichita to grow.
I want smart revenue.
But growth without trust doesn’t last.
Until trust is rebuilt, my answer is no.