Candidates agree on fiscal caution, split on new levy

Johnson County elected officials have considered a new hotel tax before, and a few county council candidates would like to rekindle the discussion.

Candidates running for the Republican nomination for at-large county council seats said a hotel tax would bring in more income and could promote tourism.

Others said they didn’t want to raise any taxes and thought another tax could hurt local businesses.

The nine candidates running for three seats up for election this year said the county should look for new sources of income as it adjusts to less property tax and income tax revenue. The county faced a $2.3 million shortfall this year and offered incentives for 20 employees to retire early.

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