Why Yes
It Works. First approved by voters in 2003, the sales tax has enabled our Area Transportation Authority (ATA) to:
- Keep up with soaring fuel prices and maintenance demands
- Replace aging buses with more reliable, more fuel-efficient modern vehicles
- Add critical service components (our buses rolled 9 million miles in 2003; 11 million miles in 2006)
- Increase ridership (13.2 million passengers got on in 2003; 15.1 million in 2007)
- Ensure fiscal stability
Question 1 on the April 8 ballot would authorize the continuation for 15 years of a 3/8-cent sales tax. First approved by voters in 2003, the sales tax has enabled the ATA to:
- Stabilize operations
- Add service (our buses rolled 9 million miles in 2003; 11 million miles in 2006)
- Increase ridership (13.2 million passengers got on in 2003; 15.1 million in 2007)
- Increased self-sufficiency ($6.4 million fare revenue in 2003; $8.4 million in 2006)
- Keep up with soaring fuel prices and maintenance demands
- Ensure fiscal stability and begin rebuilding reserves
Voting YES on Question 1 will make sure the working people of Kansas City continue to have quality, reliable bus service to get to work, the store, the doctor.
Voting YES on Question 1 will prevent any critical reductions in service or cutbacks in quality to our bus system for the next 15 years.
Voting YES on Question 1 will not create any new or additional taxes.
Voting YES on Question 1 will simply authorize the continuation of the existing 3/8-cent sales tax dedicated expressly to maintaining our essential modern bus service.