The Facts

MYTH:

“This is just a tax hike on Wichitans.”

FACT:

Wichita is broke. The projected budget deficit is $4 million in 2028 and $8 million in 2029. Without this plan, property taxes will go up dramatically just to cover the city’s basic expenses.

Voting Yes March 3rd reduces property taxes and funds the needs of first responders. Plus, over $200-million of the penny sales tax will by paid by tourists and people who don’t live in Wichita.

MYTH:

“The sales tax is a slush fund.”

FACT:

The ballot language gives legal guardrails to each area of funding that cannot be amended or changed for any purpose by city council nor anyone else. For example, the money designated for first responders cannot be transferred to other projects. ALL dollars for first responders by law must be spent on capital projects for first responders. You may find the official ballot language at wichitaforward.org.

MYTH:

“This plan is too fast, too big, and too vague.”

FACT:

It’s just one percent for seven years. It’s that simple. Proposed projects are pulled from the city’s Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) document which is available to the public.

Furthermore, legal guardrails are in place to ensure that all dollars are allocated accordingly and that they cannot legally be used for any
other purpose.

MYTH:

“The Wichita city government cannot be
trusted to spend this money.”

FACT:

Distrust of city hall is real. That’s why the Watch Wichita Win penny sales tax plan features a 15-member citizen oversight committee to
guarantee transparency and accountability. The citizen oversight committee will, by law, have the power to prioritize projects, oversee their design and completion, hold public meetings and conduct an independent third-party audit every year, the results of which will be available to the public.

MYTH:

“Not enough of the money goes to property
tax relief.”

FACT:

The penny sales tax plan provides $21 million per year in property tax relief. The average home in Wichita should see a $70 reduction in property taxes per year.

Plus, the penny plan pays for vital capital improvement projects for first responders.

MYTH:

“This is a permanent, billion-dollar tax increase.”

FACT:

The ballot language is clear that the penny sales tax “is not to exceed” $850 million or seven years – whichever comes first. By comparison, the penny sales tax to build lntrust Bank Arena ended earlier than the official date because revenue grew faster than projected.

The Watch Wichita Win penny plan will work the same way.

MYTH:

“The City of Wichita’s budget is doing
just fine.”

FACT:

Wichita is not fine. Our fire and police stations are falling apart, and their equipment is outdated. Important federal funding for homelessness is going away in October, and there is no line item in the budget to replace it.

MYTH:

“The Advisory Committee will just be a
rubber stamp.”

FACT:

The 15-person Citizen Oversight Committee will be led by regular Wichitans. By law, the committee is required to have a minimum of
2 public meetings per year and is required to conduct an annual third-party audit of all spending to enhance transparency and
accountability which is automatically made public. Furthermore, the committee will set priorities for projects and will oversee their completion.

MYTH:

“The sales tax is regressive and will hurt
poor people.”

FACT:

SNAP recipients don’t pay sales taxes on SNAP benefits. The property tax cuts will help stop rising rents. Wichita Forward is supporting HB 2456 to exclude food and groceries from the tax and rebates for
low-income families and seniors.

MYTH:

“This is all being done by developers who
want to enrich themselves.”

FACT:

Wichita Forward is a broad, nonpartisan coalition of over 50 business, nonprofit, and community leaders. The Wichita Forward plan is citizen led, citizen guided (oversight), and accountable to citizens.

MYTH:

“Sales tax in Wichita is too high.”

FACT:

Wichita does not have a local sales tax. Most of our neighboring communities—Andover, Maize, Derby, Goddard, and Valley Center—all have a permanent 1-cent sales tax. Again, over $200 million of the penny sales tax will be paid by visitors and people who don’t live in Wichita.

MYTH:

“This plan is going to be giving checks away
to homeless people.”

FACT:

No money will be given to any homeless Wichitans. Funding for Second Light, the city’s official homeless shelter, officially runs out in October of 2026. After that, the city has no funding in the budget to deal with this growing public safety challenge. This plan provides critical funding for homeless service providers so we can clean up our streets and get people real help to get back on their feet.

MYTH:

“This plan is meant to tear down Century II.”

FACT:

The Watch Wichita Win plan provides $25 million for the revitalization of Century II. When combined with the planned $12.1 million deferred maintenance budget from the city it will represent the largest investment in Century II in decades. If you want to Save Century II, then Vote Yes March 3rd!