In 2002 Riley County voters approved a countywide ½ cent retailers’ sales tax. The ballot question approved contained the following final sentence: “the question of continuing the Sales Tax shall be submitted to the electors of the County at the general election held in 2012… .” Members of the Manhattan City Commission have suggested Riley County has no legal obligation to submit the sales tax to the voters. Those members believe Riley County may lawfully decide to not submit the sales tax for a public vote in 2012. Current & Proposed 1/2 Cent Sales Tax Project.
In an effort to cooperate with the City of Manhattan and explore all legally available methods of public finance, the Board of Riley County Commissioners authorized the county counselor to make the following request for an Attorney General’s Opinion on this issue.