Lyon County to publish budget
By Brandy Nance
Originally published 01:23 p.m., September 2, 2010
Updated 02:18 p.m., September 2, 2010
Lyon County commissioners will publish the 2011 budget, which sets a cap on the amount of tax that can be levied.
Commissioners originally were looking at a 5-mill increase. A mill in Lyon County raises $229,000. The mill levy the county reached during Thursday’s meeting is 52.954, which is an 3.547-mill increase over 2010.
During Thursday’s action session, commissioners made $45,000 in cuts from various items in the general fund. The fund cuts include:
- Fair Board: $1,000
- Soil Conservation: $3,000
- Lyon County Extension Office: $1,000
- LCAT: $7,500
- RSVP: $1,000
- Lyon County Council on Aging: $1,500
- Fireworks: $5,000
- Emporia Main Street: $1,000
- Hazardous waste: $15,000
- Employee fringe benefits: $5,000
- Lyon County Historical Society: $3,000
- William Allen White: $1,000
The other cuts came from a 1.6-mill reduction in the county’s multi-year capital outlay fund. During earlier budget talks, the commission had talked about reducing the amount of mill levy dedicated to the road and bridge budget and putting the balance in the multi-year fund. During Thursday’s meeting, commissioners opted to remove that amount. Any excess from sales tax and prisoner care fees will likely be transferred into multi-year. Dan Slater, Lyon County controller, said either could easily equate to 2 mills. Slater said the county is using some optimism without dipping into their savings account. The county’s multi-year fund has enough money in it to cover 2011’s budget, Slater said. After 2011, the future of the fund is uncertain depending on the amount of revenue coming into the fund.
For more, see Friday's print or online pdf editions.
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Well it looks like Chris Walker and Steve Sauder do have a little clout in Lyon County. It didn't stay flat, but at LEAST it's not a 5.5 Increase.
September 2, 2010 at 3:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
solong (anonymous) says...
Another $45,000 could be saved if people would stop vandalizing signs and illegally dumping trash, anytime these people are caught they should be hammered big time. If there is any evidence in trash as to where it came from those people should be thoroughly investigated. Citizens can help with this by notifying law enforcement and getting all the info they can to them about the perpetrators any time they see it going on.
September 2, 2010 at 4:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
susieq (anonymous) says...
I guess this means another year without a raise for the county employees.. That makes, let's see.... how many years???
September 8, 2010 at 8:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tbluma (anonymous) says...
susieq
How many years do you suppose it is for nongovernment employees?
September 8, 2010 at 8:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Or seniors on social security?
September 8, 2010 at 9:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
A HEALTHY DOSE OF REALITY !
You may be a good employee.
You may be a great employee.
You work hard for your money.
You haven't had a raise in say 5 years.
You are mad that your health insurance co-pay is up.
At least you are not one of the 8% of Emporian's who are UN-EMPLOYED.
September 9, 2010 at 6:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
I am not picking on any city or county employees, but the truth is if I were working in a government job, I would be more concerned about the coming cuts in government spending and how I may be joining the ranks of the un-employed if that happens.
September 9, 2010 at 6:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fairbro (anonymous) says...
Wow, I feel so sorry for those poor government workers. They work in a multi-million dollar palace, they have armed guards keeping them separated from the peons, they take 2 hour lunches, have a surly attitude and know next to nothing.
And they need a raise. And bigger pensions.
And they maybe need more of your money to spend on a bigger high school? That Versailles palace with marble floors and 60 foot-vaulted ceilings isn't enough for the "kids." And the teachers need more money, fewer students and more than just a 3-month vacation.
Fire them all. Cut the budget in half and teach the children through the internet
I'll give that jerk in the voter-registration office one more chance. If she tells me again that I'm "too late" to register to vote, I will go across the street and come back with a civil rights attorney.
RINO's belong in a zoo.
September 9, 2010 at 7:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
fairbro
I appreciate that you want to register to vote.
I know you have a computor as you have posted on here.
TRY THIS:
https://www.kdor.org/voterregistratio...
September 9, 2010 at 7:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
DO IT TODAY.
NO EXCUSES.
NO PROBLEMS.
ALL ON LINE.
September 9, 2010 at 7:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
FAIRBRO,
Look at it this way.
If everyone registered to vote on line maybe the staff at the clerks office,(that you are upset with), can be cut, saving a lot of taxpayer money.
Now let me say I am not against anyone at the clerks office , but it seems like fairbro is.
With online voter registration, there is no need to even go to the courthouse.
September 9, 2010 at 7:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
And what is a Republican In Name Only?
Let's talk.
September 9, 2010 at 7:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
To be fair, there are DINO's also, and they belong in a museum.
I would rather be a RHINO or a DINO than a LEMMING.
But I still would like to discuss this with you.
September 9, 2010 at 8:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
b3bill (anonymous) says...
I think there is way too much county government. Reduce employment numbers and save money and still fulfill the purpose of the various departments. It is possible to cut more across the board and not raise the tax rate. Get more efficient, utilize the internet better, reevaluate the real need for every single job, etc. and lessen the need for personnel.
My mission and interest as a taxpayer is not to continue to finance a ballooning county government. The local economy is shrinking. The county must operate within the financial means of the taxpayers. When the economy is in a slump as it is now and will be for quite some time, the county government needs to be downsized accordingly.
All too many people don't realize there is only a certain amount paid for a specific job. It's not worth paying more. Just because someone has had a job for years and years doesn't mean it should pay more. Anyone is replaceable. The unemployment numbers are high in this area. I'm sure there are a lot of unemployed folks living in Lyon County that are just as qualified, if not more, that would love to get a county job at its current pay level and benefits.
I don't enjoy seeing someone out of a job. However, private industry cuts wages, benefits, employment, etc when their business is doing badly and their revenues are declining. The county has to be ran as a business and make cuts in a likewise manner.
It may be too late for this to occur with the 2011 budget. That does not excuse the county from immediately working diligently to economize and run under budget for 2011 to have money left over for next year, plus start working on downsizing for 2012 and following. Until the local economy significantly improves with lots of good paying jobs and new businesses located here, we don't need a county government the size it is now.
September 10, 2010 at 12:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Steve
I guess I'm a Rino because I am...[believe it or not].....now a registered Republican. I registered as a Republican, even though I almost always vote Democrat in the general elections, just so I could skew the Republican only primary system as much as possible....and so I could vote against Todd Tiahrt (sic). I'm certain that qualifies me as a RINO.
But just because I almost always vote for Democrats doesn't mean that I like them much better than I do Republicans. It's more like I see them as the lesser of two evils and would usually vote for "None of the Above" if given the chance. So I guess that makes me a DIVO.....Democrat in Vote Only.
What I really am is the most underrepresented person in today's body politic.....a true moderate. And that makes me pretty much SOL.
September 10, 2010 at 5:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
genxer (anonymous) says...
biscuitboy, I hate to start another argument here but your claim of being a moderate made me chuckle. I'm assuming that's a joke.
Also, I think that anyone that changes their registration to throw a vote a certain way when they have an interest in it failing is pretty much like cheating. That goes for anyone who does it Republican or Democrat. And I know there are both who do it. They should be ashamed of it, not proud.
September 10, 2010 at 7:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Speaking of the courthouse...
What we really need here is a calendar featuring the ladies of the courthouse in their many poses of -- you're too late to register -- not today -- insurance? -- this is the wrong document -- you're in the wrong line -- stand over there -- over there, over there -- we don't do that here -- this is out of order -- this is one day late -- NO SOUP FOR YOU!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJyGJQ...
September 10, 2010 at 7:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
genexer
I'm not surprised that you find my self-description as a moderate amusing. I only look so radical left to you because of your perspective from the far right. :-)
I take your other criticism more seriously and you do make a good point. I'm glad that you pointed out that it is a two way street because much of my motivation to do it came from listening to conservatives on this very forum talk about crossing over and voting in the Democratic primary......which of course they can do without changing registration.
I'm not sure that I would call it cheating but it is underhanded no matter who does it. But with all the over blown hyperbole, outright lies, and lobbyist influence so rampant in today's politics, I would think a childish prank like this would be one of the least of our worries.
September 10, 2010 at 8:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
It's funny, but I don't recall your being moved to express your outrage about this when some conservatives were laughing about it back during the last election cycle. Prove me wrong and I will apologize.
September 10, 2010 at 8:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
If the Republicans had the same open primary rules as the Democrats you could do it without changing parties and then you couldn't call it cheating at all.
September 10, 2010 at 8:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
genxer (anonymous) says...
I didn't see that on these forums although I had heard about it on the news. Like I said, I disagree with the practice and it makes no difference to me who is doing it.
It also makes no difference to me if the party has an open primary or not. If you are voting for a candidate that you hope will win because you think it gives the other party a better chance to win I think it is wrong.
With that said, if you are doing it because you like the potential candidate and even if you are uncertain of who you will vote for in the end, I have no problem with it. So if you are doing it in good faith then it's okay. Only you and your conscience can make the determination of whether or not what you were doing was "right".
I was surprised that you would do something like that. While I disagree with you on almost every social issue, I thought you were above something so petty as that.
I guess you may think you are a moderate because of your skewed idea of where the middle is from where you sit way out there on the radical left. :)
September 10, 2010 at 9:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Well gen I'm sorry I have been so much of a disappointment to you. Truth be known I did it more as a joke but I always forget that some conservatives have remarkably little sense of humor except when it comes to making denigrating signs and comments about people that disagree with them.
Besides that, aside from the sales tax extension I only voted in the Moran--Tiahrt race. Since the candidate that I sincerely believed to be the best one (Moran) won by much more than one vote I guess you could say no harm no foul.
Despite all that however, I have no doubt that my position as a moderate will soon once again disappoint you out there on the extreme right. So as Garth used to say....."Party On". :-)
September 10, 2010 at 10:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
One other point to consider. I have no reason to believe that the Democratic candidate for the seat has any real chance of winning....that's even if there is a Democratic candidate for the seat. So it could reasonably be argued that by voting for Moran I was voting for my choice of the best viable candidate in the race.
Now lighten up. Your just upset because it was an amusing post....you already said you got a chuckle out of it. :-)
September 10, 2010 at 10:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
I had planned on voting on the Democratic ticket in order to promote their most moderate candidates. I figured that if we have the most moderate of both parties, we can be okay no matter which party takes it. When I arrived at the polling place, I found out that somewhere along the line (I think in the vote that included the smoking ban question) I had voted on a Republican ticket and am now registered that way rather than independent. I'm going to have to fix that, but anyway, I couldn't follow through on my plan.
September 10, 2010 at 3:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
I hadn't really thought much about this before genxer brought it up....but there is a definite advantage to be had by Independents and Democrats registering as Republicans prior to an election. First it's not a lifelong contract. You can switch back right after the election, and though there is a deadline for making the switch prior to any election you can legally switch back and forth right after every election is completed if you want..
In a state that is heavily Republican registering as one for the primary can often be the only real chance you have of affecting the outcome of many races. Many times the Democratic candidate doesn't really have a snowball's chance of getting elected....even if there is a democratic candidate at all.
This effectively shuts Independents and Democrats out of the process at the level where the race is actually decided. The conservative right has effectively used this as a way to have many races decided by a very small percentage of conservative voters at the primary level. In the last primary I had no doubt the winner would ultimately be the winner of the Moran--Tiehrt primary. By denying myself the opportunity to vote in that primary by remaining a registered Democrat I would have effectively denied myself a voice in the race. Besides...you can always vote for whomever you want to in the general election.
Earlier today I was accused of cheating by doing that very thing last election. In retrospect, I don't think it is either cheating or underhanded. I think it is using the rules you are given to their best advantage. Maybe more Democrats and Independents should do the same thing and finally give themselves a voice in some of these races. It might also help move the Republican Party in Kansas back from the grip of the radical right. Now....fire away!
September 10, 2010 at 4:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Tiahrt...notTiehrt
September 10, 2010 at 4:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
If the purpose is to close the gap between the two parties and get people working together again, I'm with you biscuitboy. I will probably vote for very few in the general elections because I will only have the two parties to pick from. That isn't good enough for me. I will devote my energies to the primaries and getting the least extreme candidates on each side.
I hope I did that on the Repulican ticket this past primary, but, truth be told, I had concentrated most of my studying on the Democratic candidates since I thought that was where I'd be voting. Either ticket, my motive is the same at this point. Close the gap. Get away from the two current parties.
September 10, 2010 at 4:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Exactly oh4.....Exactly
Vote where you feel your vote will do the most good. If the parties try to throw up roadblocks such as closed primaries to limit participation to the hand picked faithful.....try to find away around the roadblock then vote your heart.
September 10, 2010 at 5:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
I would like to hear some feedback on this. Is it cheating...or is it using what you are given to your advantage? And to what extent does declaring your self a member of either party obligate you to be a rubber stamp of approval for every thing that party puts forth? If not, then why should we declare ourselves members of parties at all?
Then, would we be better off to do as George Washington suggested and outlaw political parties thereby forcing candidates to run on their own merit and forcing voters to have to decide how to vote the same way?
September 11, 2010 at 5:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
At the rate partisan politics has been spoiling every effort to move in some direction in Washington, perhaps we would be better off using George Washington's idea. I like the merit system in this regard. What the heck, politicians often talk of putting teachers on a merit system, why not themselves?
September 11, 2010 at 6:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
The 2 party system used to work, the 2 parties were different. Back in the old days when I first registered to vote, (republican) the party stood for the same principles that I believed in.
Over the years both parties were taken over by the more extreme sides of their party. It was due to voter apathy on the majorities part and extreme activism on the parties fringes.
This, coupled with career politicians, and more and more citizens DEPENDENT on our government for everything as led the two party system to morph into a party system of extremist views on both sides. Not much room for the normal working person, who believes government should be very limited, and it's costs, (taxes), kept low.
So even though I am still a registered Republican, I refuse to tow the party line blindly when it goes against what I think are my moderate ideals. I am going to vote for who I think will best represent me, not the party. And if i vote for someone who doesn't follow through with their campaign promises, the next election there will be hell to pay.
My ballots in elections have always been a mix of republican, democrat and independent . On primary elections I will vote for the candidate I like or leave it blank if I feel there is no choice.
So I think 'NONE OF THE ABOVE" on the next few elections cycles would go a long way in straightening things out.
September 11, 2010 at 7:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
A CASE IN POINT:
On Nov.2 we will have an election for governor, among other things.
Sam Brownback, whom I believe is nothing more than an extreme right, career, millionaire politician, who's only goal after 16 years of questionable "service" in Washington D.C. is running for governor as a stepping stone for president in 2012.
Tom Holland, a Kansas state senator, who has lived and ran a business in Kansas for quite a while now, while serving the citizens of Kansas on the state level. While I don't agree with everything that Senator Holland does, I see him as a viable opponent to Brownback and am actively supporting him
I am backing Senator Holland because I believe he is the more moderate candidate, who can work with both parties to help Kansas recover from the mess we are in now.
September 11, 2010 at 7:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Steve
Very good post and I agree with you 100 percent. How often does that happen? I would love to see a none of the above option on the ballot but that is the last thing that either of the " major" parties want so I'm not holding my breath.
September 11, 2010 at 8:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
I agree create. Instead of politicians just being able to stand there and rail about what their opponent didn't do, they should have to justify what they did and didn't do. Don't tell me what the other guy is not doing. I'm probably smart enough to have already figured that out. Tell me what you are going to do that will be different, and convince me why it is a better plan.
How many times have you heard a politician seeking your vote spend all of his time tearing down his opponent and never say much of anything about himself.
September 11, 2010 at 10:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )