Opinion

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

I have been impressed with the reasoned response and diligent work of the public after the recent massive tax hike by three of the Seward County commissioners.

Your phone calls have been heartening to know so many of you are paying attention and are willing to take action to do what you believe is right.

Over the years many have stopped by the office and visited with me about running for office. That goes for some currently on the commission, both for and against the recent decision to support a record-setting tax hike.

GUEST COLUMN, Mike Bedenbaugh, author of ‘Reviving our Republic’

Last week, we marked the anniversary of September 11 — commemorations for the tragic actions of 19 suicidal psychopaths who murdered nearly 3,000 Americans in a single morning. The images of that day still haunt us. And yet, alongside our grief, we remember something else: For a brief, shining moment, we came together as one people. The world rallied to us. Neighbors helped neighbors. There was hope that tragedy might spark unity.

This week, we commemorate something different: the signing of our Constitution, the bold framework that created a federal republic. It was not perfect, but it was revolutionary. It divided power, checked ambition, and bound states and citizens into a shared covenant of liberty.

GUEST COLUMN, David Trabert, Kansas Policy Institute

Contrary to claims by some local elected officials, appraisers aren’t to blame for property tax increases. Elected officials set mill rates that determine property tax revenue for cities, counties, school districts, and other taxing authorities, and they alone are responsible for property tax hikes.

Elected officials overseeing 62 percent of all local taxing authorities dropped mill rates to the revenue-neutral level and offset valuation increases, so they are collecting the same dollar amount of taxes this year as they did in 2024. Many of the rest kept the mill levy steady and are collecting a lot more money this year. They may claim they are ‘holding the line’ on property taxes and try to blame the appraiser for large tax increases, but they know they aren’t being honest with taxpayers.

MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron

An Old Testament story was recently brought to my attention, which at first seemed difficult to accept. Rather than dismissing the message, though, it's important to examine the account more closely and look for its underlying cultural context.

The incident occurs before David became king of Israel, while Saul was still hunting him. At a low point, Philistines occupied David's hometown of Bethlehem, and he was hiding in the cave of Adullam. The story unfolds in 2 Samuel 23:13-17 and 1 Samuel 22:1-2.