L&T Publisher Earl Watt
Liberal’s 1-cent sales tax known as the Focus on the Future tax has provided the most positive impact in Liberal since 1994. It’s been renewed three times since its original passage in 1993, and it is important that the benefits of that very effective tax not be confused with this proposed half cent sales tax by the Seward County Commission.
While I have always voted yes for the 1-cent sales tax and continue to support the Focus on the Future tax, I will be voting no on the county’s proposal.
Advance voting begins Monday, and it is important that you know why I believe you should vote against this proposal.
I have asked over and over for a plan to be produced to the public on why the people of Seward County should provide an additional $25 million over the next 10 years to maintain county roads.
No such plan has ever been provided.
The best we received was a review of what Road and Bridge does in Seward County.
Noble work, for sure.
We also know that there has been additional traffic on some of our roads because of additional development in the county.
Again, another reason why we need to review what we are dong with our roads in the county.
But recent concerns about management leave much to be desired on what our overall plan and scope of government should be, or how I could reach the point where I trust that anything would be done differently.
Local citizens have been investigating several aspects of Seward County spending, and the revelations have been alarming. From grants being used to provide bonuses rather than requiring hours of work is one example.
The health department has cut hours while handing out bonuses. It would seem providing public access to the health department would override bonuses. In other words, using grant money to pay for additional hours worked would make the health department more effective than handing out bonuses while cutting hours of operation or hours of employees.
How could I effectively believe that providing Seward County an additional $25 million over the next 10 years would not just become another bonus fund?
The confidence level is so low I could not in good faith believe we would actually see any significant improvement because no plan has been provided.
When were the people, specifically those who live in the county, brought to a public meeting to discuss our county roads? It never happened. Whatever plan for the roads is, it is very private at best, completely doesn’t exist at worst, and did not receive any public input in its development.
The 1-cent sales tax in Liberal only passes after meetings take place all over town, and the public shares what they want to see the money used for, but that has not happened at all with Seward County.
Finally, the recent record-setting tax increase on property taxes despite heavy public criticism is another indicator that current county leadership cannot be trusted to administer any additional funds. When the public pleads for the massive increase to be reduced and it falls on deaf ears, there is no reason to believe the county would receive any input on any additional funding of any kind.
For those reasons and countless others, I will be voting no on the half-cent sales tax proposal.
You can vote in advance at the Seward County Administration Building begin at 8 a.m. Monday.
