RUSSELL, Kan. (KWCH) – In addition to choosing who to represent them at the local, state and national levels, voters in the City of Russell are asking special questions about their general election ballots. Voters will decide on a sales tax aimed at conserving water reserve funds. The ultimate goal is to secure a long-term water source.
Specifically, Russell residents are voting in favor of a three-quarter cent sales tax to work with the City of Hays to pipe water from Edwards County.
“We are proposing a three-quarter cent sales tax to support water development in Russell.Currently, we have two water sources, one from Big Creek and one from Big Creek. One is from Pfeiffer Well Field and we are looking at supplementing that with (water) from Edwards County,” said Russell Mayor Jim Cross.
The sales tax is estimated to generate about $400,000 annually, all of which goes into the city’s water reserve fund.
“We believe it will cost approximately $22 million to transport water from Edwards County to Schonchen, and approximately $13 million to transport water from Schenchen to Pfeiffer before we begin introducing water into our current raw water lines. “I think so,” Cross explained. . “We need to supplement the water reserve fund to build infrastructure and ease the burden on Russell residents.”
Cross said the city could raise water rates, but that’s not what it wants.
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