LETTER TO THE EDITOR, Todd Stanton, Seward County, KS
The Seward County Commission estimates the 2025 budget requires an 8 to 9 mill increase in taxation. This 18.7-21.0 percent increase in taxes levied by the county doesn’t include levies for city, community college, and schools. In addition to the mill rate increase, the residential property valuations in Seward County climbed 7 percent in 2024.
The real world effect is not only could you pay a 21 percent increase in county residential property tax but the property value on which you pay the rate is also markedly higher. All renters will pay more as rents go up to meet increased taxes.
Given Bidenomics, we should not expect a revenue neutral budget (no tax increase) though what a shining moment that could have been for the Commission. Shadowstats places the current rate of consumer inflation at just under 8 percent. The county offers a budget inflating at nearly three times real world inflation (and five times the official government rate).
We must ask the county commissioners, “How did we get here?”
I’ve heard a number of explanations with one having some merit. After observing the basic budgeting process, it would appear the elephant in the room is the process itself.
Each department submits a budget request which goes in what can be called The Big Book of Wishes. We should not expect that all department chiefs are thoroughly and equally schooled in budgeting. They are theoretically hired for specific expertise and in some cases voted into office.
The county operates without a comptroller (budget chief) which means no one oversees the entire budget process from a professional viewpoint who can also provide as much detailed assistance in budget preparation as any department might like. This leaves the county with a very uneven budget process. Do all department chiefs dig into their budget in great detail looking for ways to meet needs with the least burden on the taxpayer?
Ultimately, The Big Book of Wishes is presented to the Commissioners who meet with departments, sometimes for as little as 10-20 minutes, then begin a whittling process. The Book this year initially required a 22 to 24 mill increase to meet the total budget request. Perhaps the idea of “budget request” needs to be tossed and replaced with true need-based budgeting.
At a time when taxpayers are crushed by inflation at every turn, taxpayers should expect and demand that the government which they fund not exponentially increase their burden. The county commission is obligated to be the beacon both of sanity and restraint, rather than salt in an open wound.
In my view, a top to bottom overhaul of the budget process overseen by a competent comptroller brought in from the outside is a mandatory first step. A first step.
Voters at the polls with empty wallets will remember the failure of a budget process resulting in major tax increases at this time. Those voters will be allowed to address the commission on this topic on Sept. 3, 28 days after the primary election. Call your county commissioner, now.
