L&T Publisher Earl Watt
Senator Ron Ryckman, you do a good job representing the variety of views in the 38th District which includes both Liberal and Dodge City plus the many other communities in between.
Your district includes a number of school districts, cities and counties who have taxing authority over those who call this part of the state home.
In your recent report from Topeka, Sen. Ryckman, you shared the importance of being a good listener.
Sen. Ryckman, please listen to the voices coming from your district on placing valuation increase caps and spending caps on local government.
I am sure the “leaders” who work for local units of government may be lobbying you to allow them to make the best choices for local communities, and in many cases local units of government have done a good job of practicing fiscal responsibility.
Unfortunately, not every unit of government practices such restraint, and the recent situation in Seward County is a textbook case why you should reconsider giving local units of government carte blanche authority over the people both you and they represent.
While it is true there are 18 required services that counties must provide, that in itself does not come with a blank check that allows some counties to spend ridiculous amounts of money while other counties are being responsible to their taxpayers.
We watched locally as the claim to provide these services was used as a ruse for a massive 17-mill increase in one year. As those advocating for this massive increase said over and over, counties must provide these essential services, nine of which you listed in your recent update.
But that alone doesn’t justify one of the most lucrative employee benefits programs available anywhere in Kansas. Even the other counties you represent don’t come close to offering the perks provided by Seward County, a cost that must be picked up by the citizens who themselves could never receive such benefits from the private sector.
Sen. Ryckman, were you aware that in some departments you listed that local taxpayers are paying as much in benefits for county employees as they are for work being done? A recent study by Carolyn Huddleston revealed benefits reaching, and in some cases exceeding, the total pay received by the workers.
Not only did the hired leadership for Seward County make the case for these benefits by using the scare tactic with elected officials that there would be massive resignations if anything was done to bring the benefits package in line with most of Kansas, but leadership also tried to convince the public that $5.9 million was needed for a “worst case scenario” to pay back an imaginary refund to Arkalon Ethanol. I’m sure you are aware that the company made a public statement that whatever the court determines the final number to be, Arkalon Energy/Conestoga would not expect an immediate pay back of all funds. Still, Seward County leadership made these claims, and my understanding is this is still being pushed on the new commissioners who replaced those who bought this propaganda.
I don’t believe the new commissioners are buying it.
But Sen. Ryckman, what we learned through this process is if a local unit of government goes rogue, like what happened here, the people are completely helpless in trying to exert their authority over those they elected to represent them.
You are a former government teacher, and I know you are familiar with the concept of government being of, for and by the people.
As the law exists now, the people have no role in heading off an abusive local unit of government when it falls under the spell of administration convincing them of the “18 responsibilities” argument, or hiding behind a potential refund as an excuse to increase taxes to grow the cost of government.
Sometimes, Sen. Ryckman, we vote for representatives that we believe will do the right thing. And then they don’t. They tell us they will never raise taxes, and then they vote for the largest tax increase in Seward County history.
What recourse exists for the taxpayers when a massive increase is passed against the will of the people?
The answer is nothing. Voters have no right to petition a tax increase. Voters have no right to require a public vote prior to a massive tax increase.
Somehow the State of Kansas has “defered” to local leadership with the idea that local leaders will reflect the will of the people.
Seward County has proven that is not always the case, and without the proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution that will limit valuation spikes and massive tax increases, local leaders can do irreversible harm before the voters have a chance to remove them from office.
Seward County got lucky by having a pending Kansas Board of Tax Appeals case pending when three commissioners abruptly stepped down from office, and three new commissioners chose not to fight to defend the massive hike.
But if the proposed amendment, in its various forms, were in place, there would have been tools for the people to hold their local officials in check.
While you may believe in and support local units of government, the ultimate power in Kansas should continue to reside with the people. By supporting limits on valuations and spending, you aren’t taking any authority away from local leaders. They can still raise taxes if the community supports the increase and believes it to be necessary.
The City of Liberal has done this with a 1-cent sales tax. Wichita is going to vote on a similar measure.
But these are done through public vote, not at the whim of a commission.
Sen. Ryckman, I have the deepest respect for you and your representation of us. I hope you reconsider your position on preventing the people from determining local tax rates when local elected officials are wooed by staff instead of taxpayers.
