By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — While most of the attention has been on the Wellington school bond issue, another question on the ballot is just as important for those attending, working, and/or using Cowley College Sumner Campus. A question has been placed on the Nov. 4 ballot asking Sumner County voters if they wish to renew the half-cent sales tax going toward the facilities. This is not a sales tax increase; it’s about maintaining the current funding in place.

It has been 10 years, believe it or not, since Sumner County voters approved the half-cent sales tax initiative to construct a new campus on the east side of Wellington.

Currently, all Sumner County residents are playing 7.5 percent in sales tax revenue. Wellington sales taxpayers currently have an 8.5 percent rate after the one-cent hospital sales tax sunset in April.

The current rates for Sumner County are:

State law requires that sales tax provisions be renewed by voters every 10 years. The November ballot will ask voters to extend the half-cent sales tax for an additional 10 years beyond its current expiration, so Cowley College can continue educating future teachers, ag technicians, paramedics, welders, and other professionals inside and outside Sumner County. To date, estimates indicate that 20 percent of revenue generated on campus has come from out-of-county residents.

“This is not a tax increase,” said Dr. Michelle Schoon, Cowley College President. “This is a renewal of the sales tax that was initiated in 2017.”

The current tax, if renewed, will begin on April 1, 2027, and go through March 3, 2037.

Since its inception, Cowley College Sumner Campus sales tax has generated $13.3 million, with the majority of the cost going to facilities, Schoon said.

Currently, the Sumner County campus hires 13 full-time employees. The campus is serving 163 students. Most of these are high school students from 16 school districts and homeschool. There are 45 post-secondary education students. The student population has been growing from its original 114 students in 2021.

The campus offers welding technology, Emergency Medical Services, automotive technology, software, security and development; agriculture/farm and ranch classes, general education pathways, and non-destructive testing.

Schoon, at a presentation recently at the Wellington Lions Club, said the Sumner Campus is one of five campuses under the Cowley College umbrella. Other locations are in Mulvane, Wichita, Winfield and the main campus in Arkansas City.

“Each of these campuses serves a different function,” Schoon said. “It is important that we serve different needs at these different campuses so we are not in competition with ourselves.”

The Sumner Campus emphasizes technical and agricultural training, where the other four schools do not. Welding technology education is growing, and the campus is becoming well-known for its graduates who are certified welders, Schoon said.

The first building was built in 2018, and now it has three buildings, including the Short General Education Center, Technology and Innovation Center, and the dormitory.

Schoon said the sales tax initiative is essential not only to continue the current classes but also to explore other career paths. She said one of the future goals is to expand into electricity and HVAC automation. Plans are to expand the technical center to accommodate more welding students.

Of course, Sumner Campus isn’t just about the college itself but is a central location for community events. The campus hosts community civic clubs, press events, community luncheons, Chamber of Commerce events throughout the county, a Robotics competition, and community festival events.

The sales tax initiative recently got the endorsement of the Sumner County Farm Bureau’s Board of Directors that urged the voters to vote yes.

“We believe in the progress we’re seeing at the local campus and hope voters will continue to show their support for Cowley College in Sumner County when they vote this November,” said Dale Wieshaar, Sumner County Farm Bureau Association Coordinator. “The renewal does not impact property taxes and is not a tax increase.”

Phil White, the Cowley College’s Sumner Campus Trustee, states:

“Technical education programs are in demand, and we’re at capacity for this specialized training. With this investment, we can expand our programming so local students can access more training opportunities, including in construction management and aviation – two programs students want training in. Additionally, we’ll be able to reduce waitlisted programs, training students more quickly.”