The Hutchinson Tribune Editorial Board
The Hutchinson City Council heard in its Tuesday meeting what in theory is likely if voters don’t approve the proposed sales tax increase in March, and in a word and in theory, it’s brutal. We’re not taking a stance on the sales tax referendum just yet; we’re just saying that the outlook if it doesn’t pass isn’t pretty. The city didn’t release any specifics Tuesday night, so right now any predictions about where the cuts would come from and exactly what they would be would be mere conjecture and speculation at this point. We, at The Tribune, aren’t into that, so we’ll refrain from doing anything but reporting the facts as they are released.
Good roads, clean parks, clean water, excellent customer service, and all the other amenities and services that the residents of Hutchinson enjoy aren’t free, nor do they come cheap. City officials have been financially responsible for quite some time, and the residents have benefited from it.
Nobody likes taxes, but taxes provide services, and most people like what the government does for them. Oftentimes, they don’t realize just how much the government does though. They only realize it when the government stops doing it. Then they raise hell with government officials for not providing those services or not at the level they desire. Honestly, it’s a no-win situation for those who choose to run for public office. Ask for a tax increase and catch hell. Don’t and cut services to balance the budget and catch hell. It’s just plain hell.
In this week’s issue of The Tribune, we reported on what things city officials discussed in theoretical terms Tuesday night, so our readers can see what they actually discussed instead of relying on someone’s spin on them on one of the many Hutchinson social media pages. What’s in Tribune reporter Brendan Ulmer’s story on today’s front page are the facts. That’s what our staff does. Report the facts.
In the next few weeks, our staff will be doing its best to show what the proposed cuts could look like to the average resident and take them from the theoretical to the practical to give our readers a better understanding of the issue. It won’t be easy, and we know that we’re going to have to be creative, but we have complete faith in our staff to get it done. It’s one of The Tribune’s roles as a community newspaper. Reporting on the issues that impact our readers fairly and accurately with no bias or spin.
Unlike property taxes, everyone, including the countless visitors who come to Hutchinson from across the state and country pay sales taxes. If they go to Dillons and buy a six-pack of beer or a case of soda, they pay sales tax on it. Even the candy bars and other licky chewies result in a small bit of money being put into the city’s coffers to provide the services residents of Hutchinson have come to expect from their city. Every little bit adds up, and when combined, they pay for a lot of essential services.
On the other hand, sales tax tends to be regressive. That is, the lower someone’s income, the larger percentage they spend on sales tax, because more of their income goes to necessities like food and clothing. The State of Kansas eliminated its sales tax on qualified groceries at the start of 2025, taking away some of the sting at the grocery checkout, but local sales taxes still apply to groceries.
It is reasonable for people to disagree over and debate what local government should spend money on, how much it should spend on those things, and how to get the money for it. Understanding what things cost and what is at stake is necessary to make those conversations truly productive.
Keep reading The Tribune between now and the special election to learn more about the proposed sales tax increase and what its approval or rejection means to you in your everyday life. We’re sure that you’ll be surprised, as will we, as we dive deeper into the issue.
–The Hutchinson Tribune Editorial Board