Tax increase likely
Friday, July 13, 2007
The 2008 budget process is proving to be a challenge for Lyon County commissioners as a lengthy discussion took place during Thursday’s commission meeting.
Commissioners discussed the fact that budget requests are up this year and to fully fund everything, the mill levy would likely have to increase by 4 mills.
“I would not say any of the budgets are out of line,” County Controller Dan Slater said. “Every one of those are deserving of the money they are requesting, but can the taxpayers afford to fund them?”
Half of the potential 4-mill increase comes from county employee raises and a $294,000 ambulance line item. Slater said many of the other increases in funding are $3,000 here and $5,000 there.
“But those are taxpayer dollars we are spending,” he said.
County Commissioner Bob Davis said that, although costs are up, federal and state funding is down.
“You can be assured that your federal and state funding is going to continue to decrease,” Davis said.
This week, the city of Emporia announced that it could also see a 4-mill increase in the 2008 budget. Bob Agler of A&M Consultants said that with the county, the city and school district Emporia residents have about a 147 mill levy on their heads. Agler said it isn’t the “Lyon County” that is being burdened, it’s the taxpayers.
“It’s what you put on the taxpayers,” said Agler, who also is a city commissioner. “For the taxpayers can we justify increasing by these amounts? There are lots of questions and unfortunately no answers.”
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
"Tax increase likely?" You know it will happen. Does anybody have a doubt as to why federal and state funding is down? There is so much waste of money by our governments. Emporia is a prime example of waste that is filtered down to the people in taxes constantly. Then our commissioners wonder why people are unhappy. This does not surprise anyone that lives here. And of course no answers as usual!! Now, go look at the article about cell towers and see how they put something in there about urban corridors. If this isn"t just another way to waste tax payers money then what is? If Emporia and Lyon county are so bad off money wise, why would anyone (in their right mind even consider more expenses and tax breaks for big companies that can well afford to pay) tell the people here about tax hikes. There is something majorely wrong with this picture. You will never convince me that we do not have crooks, thieves and forked tongue people running this town and county. Wake up Emporia!!!!!!!!!
July 16, 2007 at 9:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
This all goes back to the money this town has let go the way side. Of course, dump it all on the tax payers. The more I think about an urban corridor and even the mention of it gets funnier all the time. Best believe it will be another way to waste tax dollars, but then why not just make sure we re do I35 so people can drive around us a lot faster to get the hell out of here. After all, we have a clock, a court house, an acquatic center, w mart, a theater that will not show the movie SICKO, to bring people to Emporia to spend their dollars to help with sales tax. Of course, if you are a big company you can come here and get all kinds of tax breaks, but remember if you are the little guy you will get SCREWED.
July 16, 2007 at 12:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )