When voters flip over their ballot, they’ll be greeted with a long, wordy ballot question. The issue has to do with how boats are taxed in Kansas. KPR’s Stephen Koranda has more on the proposed constitutional amendment.
A yes vote would allow lawmakers to reduce property tax rates for boats to bring them more in line with tax rates for cars and other recreational vehicles. A no vote would leave tax rates as they are. Supporters say some boats are being registered in surrounding states with lower rates to avoid the Kansas taxes. They hope a change would bring more boat registrations to Kansas. But state law requires the ballot measure to include the entire section of the constitution that would be amended, resulting in a large, imposing block of text on the ballot. Advocates for the measure are concerned voters will see that and just skip it altogether.