If you haven't joined The Kansas City Kansan's Facebook page, please do.

Beginning this week, we'll feature some of our Facebook feedback comments on stories we link there.

Today, The Woodlands and sales tax election in Wyandotte have generated some comments.

Reader Thomas Pastine, on the sales tax election:

Wyandotte county.....I already give you more than I want for property taxes. I have no sidewalks. I have no city sewer, and then road down to my house is not great. Now you want more of my money? I will be voting no.

Reader Richard Peel, also on the sales tax election:

Maybe we shouldn't have given 20 and 30 year tax breaks to these entities to begin with?

Meanwhile, other readers chimed in on the news that The Woodlands might be able to reopen in light of news that the State of Kansas is willing to take less revenue.

Reader Matt Knight:

Let's get the Woodlands back open and some money generated here is Wyandotte county-not at the Missouri riverboats!

Reader Zach Smith:

Heeeere comes Woody!!! I say if they open it, that one night per week, people should be allowed to bring their own dog to race-kind of like drag racing. No greyhounds allowed, strictly amateur dogs.

Reader Steve Neal, who opposes the slot machines:

How about we figure out a use for the Woodlands that doesn't resort to gambling. A thriving economy can be built without gambling. It troulbes me that WYCO has succumbed to the supposed suggestion that wehave to have gambling as a part of our economic growth. We know that gambling has (at the very least) the potential of increasing crime and debt and that, as well as the attitude of greed and recklessness. I really believe that WYCO can be a thriving, economically healthy place without gambling.

The Unified Government Board of Commissioners last week unanimously approved of a motion to establish a sales tax election on April 13.

The ballot question calls for a 3/8-cent sales tax increase that would generate $6 million, along with an additional $2.25 million in Village West. The Village West revenue would pay off sales tax revenue bonds.

The sales tax is expected to be used for both public safety and infrastructure.

Last fall, a discussion was held by commissioners to determine which path the majority of the funding would go.

In the official ordinance, both infrastructure and public safety are mentioned. Both the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and Kansas City, Kan., Fire Department are facing a shortfall of force. About 20 police officers are needed for the KCKPD to be considered as full strength.

The key passage:

WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners deems it advisable to provide for an additional source of revenue to finance public safety and neighborhood infrastructure, including the construction, repair, and maintenance of roads, curbs, and sidewalks within the City by imposition of a three-eighths of one percent citywide retailers’ sales tax (the “Sales Tax”), provided that the electors of the City authorize such Sales Tax at an election held for such purpose;

After a grand total of 350 votes were counted in Edwardsville, no sales tax increase will be implemented in the city.

185 voters said no, while 165 voters voted yes on a sales tax increase in Edwardsville.

Just 12.5 percent of Edwardsviile's 2,806 registered voters cast ballots.

While the Unified Government decided to push the issue of a sales tax increase in Kansas City, Kan., aside, Edwardsville residents will have an opportunity to pass or reject an increase.

Residents will vote to impose an additional one-half percent of a sales tax on city-wide retailers.

If passed, the increase would be effective on April 1, 2010. Right now, Edwardsville has one of the lowest sales tax percentage in the Greater Kansas City metro area.

To combine two of the issues that have brought out the most discussion, would it be best to use a potential sales tax increase for law enforcement?

One issue Unified Government Commissioners discussed when looking at a sales tax increase is what the money would be spent on.

From a previous story on the matter:

During the evening, the commissioners engaged on what the ballot question should be about. The two areas that were most popular in where the tax would go would be infrastructure and public safety.

Commissioner Mark Holland appeared to be the strongest advocate for using the revenue generated for infrastructure.

"We have stimulus money coming in for fire and police," he said. "We gutted our infrastructure in last year's budget. The sales tax should build our city."

In the corner of public safety was Commissioner Nathan Barnes.

"The stimulus is only adding 12 police officers," Barnes said. "We want visitors to our city to know that they'll be safe. Whether its coming in the west or the east, you'll be safe if you visit our city."

In light of potential police department terminations (16 of them in fact), it could be argued that increased revenue should be used on law enforcement, rather than infrastructure.

NOTE: This post is not meant to endorse a sales tax increase. It's just an idea in my head after Friday's news.

The City of Edwardsville will host its first public forum this Thursday concerning its special sales tax election.

The forum will be held at the Edwardsville Community Center, located at 696 3rd Street, from 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. Residents in Edwardsville can ask questions about the upcoming election and why the tax is needed to support city operations.

A second forum will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at Edwardsville Elementary School.

Per some reader discussion, there was a question regarding sales tax rates in the Greater Kansas City area.

Here are some numbers provided by the Unified Government during its special session on Monday evening.

CURRENT SALES TAX RATES

1. Leawood, 8.050 percent
2. Bonner Springs, 8.025 percent
3. Lenexa, 8.025 percent
4. Lawrence, 7.850 percent
5. Merriam, 7.775 percent
6. Mission, 7.775 percent
7. Roeland Park, 7.775 percent
8. Shawnee, 7.775 percent
9 .Kansas City, Mo., 7.725 percent (There is a two percent restaurant tax)
10. Olathe, 7.650 percent
11. Overland Park, 7.650 percent
12. Independence, Mo., 7.600 percent
13. Kansas City, Kan., 7.550 percent
14. Basehor, 7.300 percent
15. Edwardsville, 7.300 percent
16. Leavenworth, 7.300 percent

Should a quarter-cent sales tax be approved by voters next spring or sometime next year, here's how the rankings would change:

1. Leawood, 8.050 percent
2. Bonner Springs, 8.025 percent
3. Lenexa, 8.025 percent
4. Lawrence, 7.850 percent
5. Kansas City, Kan., 7.800 percent
6. Merriam, 7.775 percent
7. Mission, 7.775 percent
8. Roeland Park, 7.775 percent
9. Shawnee, 7.775 percent
10 .Kansas City, Mo., 7.725 percent
11. Olathe, 7.650 percent
12. Overland Park, 7.650 percent
13. Independence, Mo., 7.600 percent
14. Basehor, 7.300 percent
15. Edwardsville, 7.300 percent
16. Leavenworth, 7.300 percent

While KCK would still have a lower sales tax than Bonner Springs, Leawood, Lenexa and Lawrence, the sales tax increase being floated around would increase KCK's rate over some Johnson County cities and those across the lines.

The angle behind a sales tax increase for supporters is it targets those outside of Wyandotte County who travel here to shop.

However, reader John Altevogt makes a fair point in the comments section of a previous story about how Wyandotte County residents might respond to a sales tax increase. It's one worth exploring, especially in an economy that might not get better entering 2010:

Incidentally, just as an indication of what will happen if the sales tax is increased. I found out that I could buy the same tires at the Shawnee store cheaper than I could at the Legends store because the tax was higher at the Legends store. Bye-bye WYCO, hello Shawnee. So by all means raise the tax on goods and services in WYCO and watch people flee to places where they can purchase the same goods and services cheaper.

In light of the closeness of November, the Unified Government decided tonight not to get involved with a fall sales tax election.

Instead, it appears the issue will come back up in the spring. The UG would have had only around a month of time to engage in an informational campaign about the quarter-cent sales tax.

The UG Board of Commissioners approved the measure tonight 8-1 that would not call for an election this fall, citing the timeliness and disagreements among some commissioners.

"We don't agree on a whole in what this tax should go to," said Mike Kaine, commissioner.

During the evening, the commissioners engaged on what the ballot question should be about. The two areas that were most popular in where the tax would go would be infrastructure and public safety.

Commissioner Mark Holland appeared to be the strongest advocate for using the revenue generated for infrastructure.

"We have stimulus money coming in for fire and police," he said. "We gutted our infrastructure in last year's budget. The sales tax should build our city."

In the corner of public safety was Commissioner Nathan Barnes.

"The stimulus is only adding 12 police officers," Barnes said. "We want visitors to our city to know that they'll be safe. Whether its coming in the west or the east, you'll be safe if you visit our city."

The one dissenting vote on pushing the sales tax issue aside for the remainder of the year was Commissioner Pat Pettey.

"This has been out there during our budget process," she said. "Our public is aware of what's going on and the public is aware there is a discussion."

Unified Government Mayor/CEO Joe Reardon said more specifics on what the sales tax would do for the community is needed.

"In 10 years we need to know how much we got to do with this," he said. "The public will ask 'what does that do for me?' We have to know and we better know."

UG projections indicate the county would receive about $4 million a year if a quarter-cent sales tax would be supported by the voting public.

The Unified Government will hold a special meeting next Monday night at City Hall.

The meeting will center around – you guessed it – a possible sales tax increase. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. on the ninth floor conference room.

While the UG has solicited information and the public's opinion on the matter, no initiative has been announced yet.

The Unified Government will hold an informal sales tax listening session tonight.

Beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Pierson Community Center, citizens are encouraged to share comments concerning the sales tax. Because of revenue losses, the UG is considering a special election for an increase in the sales tax.