Special revenue funds
Saturday, August 22, 2009
IT’S PROBABLY GOOD that the State of Kansas has almost $2 billion squirreled away in more than 1,600 special revenue funds. The least those accounts do is provide a lot of safety nets.
Yet during a recession, it would be nice if lawmakers could use some of that money (identified by the Flint Hills Center for Public Policy) to ease the pressure on programs for the elderly, children, the infirm or on taxpayers in general.
Unfortunately, the money exists not simply because state agencies forgot or didn’t need to spend it. In fact, as the Associated Press has reported, at least some of it is being spent as intended. The Employment Security Trust Fund, for example, ended the last fiscal year with $340 million, which sounds impressive. A year ago, however, the fund contained nearly twice that amount — $661 million. The balance has shrunk as the state has funneled benefits to unemployed Kansans.
Other funds are similarly dedicated and deserve respect. As state budget director Duane Goossen said, “Not all of these funds are alike. There are many different reasons why there may be money in a particular fund.”
That doesn’t, however, mean all those funds should be off limits to legislators who, after all, have the greater good to consider. ...
Yet legislators for whom tax increases are anathema and who instead have been whittling away at important programs and services in successive years would be remiss to not learn more. They should conduct their own review of these special revenue funds. Maybe some aren’t so special, or have outlived their usefulness or provide more of a rainy day fund than is necessary.
These funds shouldn’t be raided indiscriminately, but neither should they automatically be off limits.
The Manhattan Mercury
Aug. 17
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
These funds should'nt be raided indiscriminating, but neither should they automatically be off limits. This sounds like the Emporia Utility Funds. The city commission was asked by K.B.Thomas Jr, to disclose the amount of the administration fees of the Utility Funds. The cost is 2 million dollars which, they admitted was at least 1 million to much. This is a shamful tax on the very least able to pay. This type of razzle dazzle accounting makes you wonder, what else they are trying to hide?
August 22, 2009 at 5:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
I would like to see some new legislation on unemployment numbers. We need to quit sugar coating the numbers; By this I mean, under current law an unemployed person will go off the role in 9 months.Therefor, I beleive the real unemployment is always about double what is stated. Another interesting tool would be to estimate the number of people that are working but, they are underemployed when, their education and skills are considered. Will Rogers said, an economist's guess is liable to be about as good as anybody eles's. One last thought, I am totally amazed that people who laugh at fortunetellers, take economists and wall street reporters seriously.
August 22, 2009 at 6:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
I wonder if the Flint Hills Center for piblic policy would entertain a vist to Emporia? Please bring the Loan Ranger-to the dump, the dump dump dump.
August 22, 2009 at 6:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
I wonder if any of the Flint Hills Center for public policy members attentend the Bilderberg meetings with former governor Sebelius. The enigmatic group is the frequent subject of New World Order conspiracy theories. When I heard she was attending these meetings, it was obvious to me that she was going to be in the President's cabinet. To explore the Bilderbergers go to You tube Alex Jones Bliderberg club's plan. You might want to filter some of this out but, it is interesting and frightful.
August 22, 2009 at 10:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Go to utube jim tucker; bilderberg plans revealed alex jones show.
August 22, 2009 at 10:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )