Casino jumps Mulvane's alcohol tax collections
With Mulvane's growing population and soaring liquor tax collections from the Kansas Star Casino, the city has a new fund of money to dole out.
When the state of Kansas collects liquor tax, it kicks a portion of it back to the city. Those cities under 6,000 in population split it evenly between two funds - the general fund that aids in street repair, emergency services and the like, and also a parks and recreation fund.
But the rules are different when the population goes beyond that figure. Those taxes are then split in three portions, adding in an alcohol and drug fund.
"The city of Mulvane, up until the 2010 Census, we were under 6,000, so we didn't have the fund at all - that special alcohol and drug fund, at all," said Kent Hixson, Mulvane city administrator.
Coupled with the Kansas Star Casino's business, alcohol taxes collected have quintupled. In 2011, Mulvane brought in just over $20,000 a year. In 2012, the figure skyrocketed to $98,000.
"We anticipate getting between $75,000 and $100,000 a year in local alcohol tax," Hixson said.
That leaves Mulvane with about $35,000 to disperse this year out of its new alcohol and drug fund. The city is accepting applications from programs wanting to help with alcohol treatment and education.
"We had a couple of goals in mind in creating the application form - keep it simple enough that it wouldn't dissuade anyone from trying to apply, but gather enough information that we can be accountable to the citizens that the money is being spent wisely," Hixson said.
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