Edgar hosted a town hall meeting June 24, to discuss possibly bringing Keno into town, specifically to The Bar Next Door, as well as a half percent sales tax increase.
The main purpose of the meeting was to get feedback from citizens on whether they’d be OK with bringing Keno to town and having a half percent sales tax increase.
Both decisions would need to be voted on in a special ballot election, which will cost about $4,000. Most of that cost is for mailing the ballots to Edgar citizens, since Clay is a mail-in ballot county.
Should Keno be voted as a yes by citizens, the Keno company would come into Edgar and set up the system.
The amount earned from Keno fluctuates, but it’s free money to the city. In looking into local Keno amounts from Nelson and Sutton over the past few years, Nelson’s Keno has amounted to $15,221.49 in 2024; $10,507.54 in 2023; and $15,305.41 in 2022.
For Sutton, in the 2022-23 fiscal year, Keno amounted to $25,043.62; 2023-24 amounted to $10,827.72—partially due to one of the Keno locations being closed; and thus far in the 2024-25 fiscal year, $18,540.40.
That amount is how much each city received from Keno.
Funds from the Keno can help lower the levy and pay off the 5th Street Project, as well as help fund other city improvements in the future.
Most of the close to 20 people in attendance were OK with having Keno in the City of Edgar.
When it came to discussion about the sales tax increase, some were not happy with it.
Discussion began with how the increase will also be paid by those who come to town and buy items, such as at Sugar Shack or Corner Market.
However, one citizen said it felt like a punishment for those who lived in Edgar and are already paying the sales tax.
He later added how the increase won’t be noticed with little purchases, it’ll be the bigger purchases.
Some citizens countered his comments saying if the sales tax increases by .5 percent, then it could help the city drop the property tax.
Currently, Edgar sits at 6.5 percent sales tax. Surrounding towns within Clay County such as Clay Center, Fairfield, and Sutton have a 7 percent sales tax.
Other towns in Clay County, including Deweese and Harvard have a 6.5 percent sales tax.
No decisions were made at the townhall meeting, and discussion will continue at the next city council meeting.
