Sedgwick County commissioners launch newsletters on issues
Sedgwick County commissioners sent out their first e-mail newsletters last week.
Chairman Jim Howell proposed the newsletters as a way for commissioners to communicate with residents in their districts about county news through their perspectives. It’s part of a renewed effort to build up the county’s image with residents.
All or most of the five newsletters celebrated the Sedgwick County Zoo receiving elephants from southern Africa, the new system to text to reserve a spot in line at the tag office, the upcoming commission meeting in Derby, the work at the Kellogg I-235 interchange and the Comcare proposal to start its own nonprofit.
Commissioners also used their newsletters to convey their views on the property tax lid, the 2017 budget process and other topics. As of Friday afternoon, 161 people had subscribed to newsletters through the county website. Residents can subscribe by going to www.sedgwickcounty.org/commissioners.
Budget notes
Newsletters from the conservative commission majority highlighted the county debt policy approved last week.
The policy set a target mill levy of 29.359 mills for the next six budgets with a drop in the mill levy in 2023. It also limited the amount of the budget used to repay debt.
“Sedgwick County is consistently working to lessen the property tax burden on citizens,” according to newsletters from Howell and commissioners Karl Peterjohn and Richard Ranzau. “Commissioners have proven that they are listening to their constituents and keeping government spending under control.”
Commissioners Dave Unruh and Tim Norton have criticized the debt policy for limiting the county’s fiscal options.
It is paramount that we work with the zoo board to insure we adequately fund the operations of this new (elephant) exhibit…Now is not the time to short-change this remarkable jewel in our community.
Commissioner Tim Norton on zoo funding
Norton wrote in his newsletter that the county must develop a “workable and adequate” operating agreement with the Sedgwick County Zoo. Sedgwick County contributed less to the zoo in this year’s budget than it originally said it would in a funding agreement that is being renegotiated.
“As budget season approaches, it is paramount that we work with the zoo board to insure we adequately fund the operations of this new (elephant) exhibit,” Norton said. “Now is not the time to short-change this remarkable jewel in our community.”
Property tax fight
City and county governments will soon have to hold a public vote if officials want to raise spending by more than an adjusted rate for inflation set by the state. Some legislators have pushed for that property ‘tax lid’ to start this year instead of later. Howell and Peterjohn testified at the Statehouse in March on the issue.
We are stewards of your tax dollars and you should have a say when your property taxes exceed a reasonable growth threshold.
Chairman Jim Howell on the ‘property tax lid’
“We seem to be the only governing body in favor of placing these restrictions and decisions in the hands of our electorate,” Howell said. “We are stewards of your tax dollars and you should have a say when your property taxes exceed a reasonable growth threshold.
Unruh blasted any type of “state-imposed property tax limit” in his newsletter, noting Sedgwick County is virtually alone among county governments in Kansas in its support of the tax lid.
The tax lid simply prevents growing counties like ours from collecting taxes on increased property values…There is no need for the state to interfere with our home rule.
Commissioner Dave Unruh
“The tax lid simply prevents growing counties like ours from collecting taxes on increased property values,” Unruh said. “Those increases are needed to support services to new residents and businesses in the growth areas.”
Other topics
Norton wrote about the county’s work with the Child Advocacy Center and the need for a new law enforcement training center, which has repeatedly been delayed.
“The old elementary school that the training center is housed in is…woefully insufficient for the mission of insuring the highest quality of training for the guardians of our safety,” Norton said. “I am saddened that gridlock, political maneuvering, penny-wise/pound-foolish thinking…has won out.”
Ranzau highlighted an agreement between the county’s public works department and state wildlife department on streamlining road project approvals.
“It will reduce the regulatory burden on citizens and on Sedgwick County,” he said.
Daniel Salazar: 316-269-6791, @imdanielsalazar
This story was originally published April 2, 2016 at 10:12 AM with the headline "Sedgwick County commissioners launch newsletters on issues."