LETTER TO THE EDITOR, David Box, Seward County

Curiosity, knowledge, and involvement in government affairs are important and necessary. Recent history shows why that matters. In 2025, the Seward County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution and budget exceeding the revenue neutral rate, an increase that would raise property taxes by millions of dollars. Taxpayers objected; they studied public documents, reviewed meeting transcripts, developed an understanding of relevant statutes, learned what avenues were available for protest and appealed to the appropriate agencies. In January 2026, a newly constituted Board voted to return to the revenue neutral rate and amend the budget. That happened because taxpayers acted. They applied knowledge to action, thereby making their objections known, and the Board listened.

The Kansas Bill of Rights states that "all political power is inherent in the people" and that free government is founded on the people’s authority "for their equal protection and benefit." It also says the people have the right "to consult for their common good, to instruct their representatives, and to petition the government." Kan. Const. Bill of Rights §§ 2, 3.

Those principles don’t end on Election Day. While elected officials and public employees come and go, government remains the people’s government, founded on their authority and existing for their benefit. Public trust is sustained when people stay involved, ask questions, review records, and expect public decisions to withstand public examination.

Government enforces laws, regulations, and policies within statutory authority. It makes decisions and takes actions by which your life is governed. This is why holding government accountable is important and necessary. Public understanding and oversight are essential for there to be public trust. Understanding is born from knowledge. Knowledge rests in public documents and observed public business. You can’t evaluate what you haven’t seen, and you can’t hold government accountable if you’re uninformed. Attend or review meetings, contact elected officials, request public records, vote, petition, and file complaints where the law allows. The Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) is especially important because it gives ordinary people a way to see the records behind government actions. It helps move public discussion away from rumor or suspicion and toward documents, dates, votes, and facts.

Government accountability doesn’t happen on its own. It happens only when citizens are engaged and government keeps its affairs open to the public. Public trust doesn’t stand without public awareness. It stands when government actions are understood, records are available for review, and officials are willing to answer good-faith questions. Even when the questions may be uncomfortable or critical.

Most people are busy with their everyday lives, so in practice, government oversight will rely on a small number of people with the time and willingness to do the work. Sometimes that work will show government actions were sufficiently deliberated and well founded; other times, it will show the contrary. The common goal should always be to arrive at the truth, whatever it may be.

A healthy government should welcome inquiries from the public. It is the public’s right. Officials should never frame such inquiries as a burden or an attack. Public business belongs to the public, and people shouldn’t be made to feel improper for asking questions about their own government.

When people ask questions, review records, and expect accountability, they aren’t interfering with government. They’re participating in it.

Government belongs to the people. It works best when people remember that, and when officials do, too.