Opinion

OPINION – Debunking ‘holding the line’ and other tax myths

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.

OPINION– Establishing the value of a gift

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.

OPINION – The hidden tax on the middle class: Soaring hospital costs

GUEST COLUMN, Demetrio J. Aguila III

Miffed about stagnant wages? The hospital down the street may be the culprit.

Spending on hospital care eclipsed $1.5 trillion in 2023, the latest year for which there's data — more than any other provider category. That represents an increase of more than 10 percent over the previous year.

It's no wonder the cost of covering a family of four through a workplace plan has surpassed $35,000. That's approaching half of the median household's income.

OPINION – Kernels and connections

GUEST COLUMN, Kim Baldwin, Kansas Farm Bureau

Fall field trips are in full swing for children and their teachers. While a teacher might notify parents of an upcoming field trip a week or two before the big day, the preparation work needed for a field trip to become reality sometimes happens many months prior.

While our family’s farm has hosted many groups in the past to talk about farming sorghum, wheat, corn or soybeans in central Kansas, the requests for visits have definitely increased since we began growing and marketing popcorn.

OPINION – Saggy belly

THE POSTSCRIPT, Carrie Classon

My mother told me she was worried that her cat, Katy, needed to lose weight. Privately, I agreed.

My sister and I spent the weekend with my parents up at their cabin in the woods. Their cat, Katy, is now middle-aged and not as active as she used to be. She is no longer allowed outside because she is an excellent bird killer. So Katy spends a lot of her time napping — something cats are very good at (and something I think is a good idea for people as well). But over the years, Katy developed a saggy belly. My mother, who feeds her, felt responsible and worried that she might not be healthy.