News

Sen. Tyson to visit Liberal Sept. 15 to discuss options for limiting property tax hikes

EARL WATT

• Leader & Times

Caryn Tyson is considered a champion in the Kansas Senate for helping keep taxes low, and the recent proposal from Seward County was made public because Tyson helped create the Revenue Neutral Rate notices that were recently received by property owners.

Tyson chairs the Senate Tax Committee and has been pushing for a constitutional amendment to limit how much local units of government can increase the valuation of property.

Tyson attended a meeting on the constitutional amendment in Paola, and she said more than 250 people showed up.

City hosts RNR discussion, approves annual audit

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Finances were a hot topic for the Liberal City Commission at its most recent meeting Tuesday evening.

One of those finance-related items concerned the Revenue Neutral Rate on the City of Liberal side.

Armstrong to turn 100 Sept. 6

L&T staff report

World War II veteran and former military pilot Lewis Armstrong will be turning 100 Sept. 6, and the Liberal Good Samaritan Center is celebrating.

Not only did Armstrong serve in the military, but after his military career, he continued to honor veterans by serving in the local American Legion chapter.

Armstrong became a doctor and served the community throughout his lifetime.

More recently, Armstrong was the Grand Marshal of the Fourth of July Parade when the event began three years ago.

To honor Armstrong turning 100, the Liberal Good Samaritan Center will be hosting a come-and-go-reception, beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6. The public is invited to stop by and wish Armstrong a happy birthday.

Tax exemptions, assessed value and mill levies discussed at Kismet town hall

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

As Seward County continues to struggle with the possible reality of having to pay back nearly $6 million in taxes from a Board of Tax Appeals case, commissioners and staff continue to search for answers to how to provide services without a significant rise in the county’s mill levy.

The commission hosted two recent town hall meetings, one in Liberal and one in Kismet, and at the Kismet meeting, Administrator April Warden explained how close county officials monitor the budget to make judgments about spending to ensure the budget is balanced at the end of the year.

KDOT announces chip seal projects to begin on US 56 and K-25 in Stevens and Morton counties

Kansas Department of Transportation

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) is scheduled to start multiple chip seal projects this week along U.S. Highway 56 and Kansas Highway 25.

The approximate locations of the projects are on U.S. 56 from the city limits of Rolla east to the west city limits of Hugoton and along K-25 from the Oklahoma-Kansas state line north to the US 56/K-25 junction in Stevens and Morton counties.