Manhattan Mercury 10/11/2006 7:42:46 PM

Cut food tax? Cap property tax? 67th hopefuls speak up

Will Klusener Staff Writer

The Republican challenger for the 66th District seat is calling for cuts to several current taxes. Bob Strawn said he will push for legislation that would set a fixed rate for the property tax for senior citizens, and abolish the food tax for staple foods like bread, meat and vegetables.

Strawn's opposition, Democratic incumbent Sydney Carlin, also has supported legislation to lower the tax on staple foods, but said she does not support a complete abolition of the tax. The state makes more than $400 million in revenue from the food tax, she said, and losing all of that money is something the state of Kansas can't withstand.

The property tax needs to be set at a fixed rate for seniors, Strawn said, because the recent rise in property valuation in the area is causing an undue tax burden on homeowners. He said that is especially true for senior citizens with fixed incomes. He defined that group as retired people who are 65 or older, living on Social Security.

Carlin has supported legislation that got rid of the sales tax on prescription drugs, but she said not everyone who is over 65 needs tax relief.

"Seventy percent of the wealth in this country is controlled by people who are over 65 years of age," Carlin said.

Instead, Carlin said she is working to provide tax relief to people of all ages who need help.

Strawn said the easiest way to help seniors and the poor is to get rid of the food tax, which he dubbed "the most egregious tax in Kansas."

To offset the tax revenue the state and local governments would lose if his legislation passes, Strawn said he would work to recruit businesses such as biochemical and ethanol companies. Strawn claims that would broaden the tax base and and fill in the revenue gap.

The tax base is already growing, however, Carlin said. With the expansion of Fort Riley, more people and businesses are already coming to the area. Strawn's plan is nothing new, she said, and if big business could easily offset the tax base it would have been done already.

Carlin also said that the elimination of government spending would decrease the amount of good government jobs, like military positions and school teachers, that are available.

"The key is to balance the amount of business you have with the amount of relief you give," Carlin said.