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Despite a push from the city, the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce and the Friends of the River Foundation, voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly killed a proposed 0.25 percent sales tax increase to help fund the $27 million Smoky Hill River renewal project.

"The sales tax issue would have failed even if the Friends of the Salina Taxpayers had not informed people," said Mike Wilson, chairman of the taxpayers group, which opposed the tax increase.

"However, our organization gave people the opportunity to pool their funds to buy yard signs, newspaper ads and other items. These advertising items raised the public's awareness of the issues regarding the river improvement project."

With all 35 precincts reporting in, voters rejected the sales tax proposal 9,217 votes to 4,929, or 65.2 percent to 34.8 percent.

Although an uptick in advance voting had County Clerk Don Merriman saying that the turnout of registered voters could hit 60 percent, the actual turnout was much lower -- there were 17,455 votes cast, translating to a 49 percent turnout.

Sales tax collection would have started in April and pushed the 8.2 percent Salina sales tax to 8.45 percent.

"We are disappointed because there are a lot of people that put a lot of time and effort into this project," said Troy Vancil, president of the Friends of the River. "We knew when we talked about doing this, it would be a tough call with the state sales tax, economy and the electorate. We decided to put it in front of voters and give it a shot."

Vancil said the Friends of the River is not going away and will continue to work for the improvement of the river.

"We felt the river is in an unacceptable condition for its stature, and that hasn't changed," Vancil said. "We are going to sit down and let this soak in. We will keep plugging away and see when a better time is."

Wilson and Vancil both said the economic times played a part in the election.

"Two years ago, the recession started, then we had the 1 percent sales tax increase (from the state). Those two things were very detrimental to the Friends of the River's project," Wilson said. "For most people I talked to, it was an economic issue, mainly."

Salina City Manager Jason Gage said he believes the economy did have an effect on voters.

It was just too large

Wilson also believes the project's size worked against it.

"Even in good economic times, a lot of people would have opposed it because it has been compared to San Antonio," Wilson said. "How can you compare it to that large of a city? Some people think this project is too large. If the Friends of the River scaled down the project, it may have a chance."

Wilson said he expects the city and the Friends of the River to bring the project back within the next few years.

Gage said there is no set amount of time a municipality must wait to again place an issue on the ballot.

"Kenwood Cove (Salina's aquatic park) was on the ballot in 2000, and it was brought back eight years later," Gage said. "There was quite a bit of time that had passed. The city didn't just put the issue back on the ballot."

Can we wait 3 years?

Wilson said he believes the river project would pass if brought back in three years, after the 1 percent Kansas sales tax has gone off the books.

"Can't we wait until then?" Wilson said.

Gage said the issue would have to be brought back before city commissioners to be placed on the ballot. He said the project may remain in the city's capital improvement plan as identified, but unfunded.

"After three years of work and preparation on the project, I believe people are ready to just step back and take a deep breath," Gage said. "I think a lot of people are ready to take a break, and the city staff will be back to business focusing on our CIP (capital improvement plan)."

nReporter Chris Hunter can be reached at 822-1422 or by e-mail at chunter@salina.com.

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