Maize Matters Sales Tax

The Maize Matters Sales Tax was approved by voters on August 5, 2025.

Background
At the March 24, 2025 meeting, the Maize City Council approved a resolution to place a 1% citywide retailers’ sales tax on the ballot for the August 5, 2025 Primary Election. If approved, this sales tax would be in effect for 10 years, from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2035. The new sales tax is estimated to generate approximately $6.7 million over 10 years (assuming zero growth) in new revenue.

How will the tax dollars be spent?salestax
The proposed sales tax would focus revenue towards the following uses:
  • 85% Street and Sidewalk Infrastructure
  • 15% Property Tax Relief
The City listened to its residents. A community survey was sent out in late 2024 that measured residents satisfaction and connection to the community and how residents want to best invest tax dollars and their willingness to pay for items.

  • 97% say Maize is safe, and 93% value our school district
  • 83% feel Maize is well-maintained
  • 86% expect to stay in Maize for at least the next five years
When asked about infrastructure priorities, over 80% of respondents supported widening 119th and modernizing Tyler Road. When it came to funding options, 68% favored a 1-cent sales tax as the most reasonable path forward. Residents want investment - but they want it measured and responsible.

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Why Sales Tax?

Unlike property taxes, a sales tax is shared by everyone who uses Maize’s infrastructure—residents, visitors, commuters, and shoppers. In fact, 86% of shoppers at Maize’s largest retailers live outside the city limits from information gathered through Placer AI. This means a significant portion of sales tax revenue would come from non-residents, helping maintain roads without overburdening Maize homeowners.

Without this sales tax, future street and drainage projects would likely require higher property taxes or be delayed due to lack of funding.

A balance of our revenue source funding approach will helps keep Maize affordable for homeowners.

Ballot Language:
Shall the City of Maize, Kansas be authorized to levy a one percent (1.0%) City-wide retailers' sales tax, with (1) 85% of such tax to be applied to pay the costs of maintenance, repair and improvements to streets and sidewalks and any related drainage improvements in the City, (2) 15% of such tax to be applied to reduce ad valorem property taxes in the City, and with collection of such sales tax to commence on January  1, 2026, and to expire on December 31, 2036?
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