Prudent, not reckless
Teresa Walters, Lyon County Commissioner
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Editor’s note: These comments were presented during commissioner comments at Thursday’s Lyon County Commission meeting.
Jon Bon Jovi sang, “Living on a Prayer...” And many in Emporia apparently feel that, because our city commission has taken that stand on assuming a deficit budget and spending down reserves, it will work for all of us.
The county-wide sales tax adopted by voters was intended to assist the smaller communities in Lyon County in achieving much-needed infrastructure improvement as well as to prevent a substantial increase in ad valorem property tax. Both of these goals have been achieved
If minutes from last week’s county commission meeting had been reviewed, one would have seen the statement by the county controller that, if it had not been for the county-wide sales tax, the Board of County Commissioners would be considering a possible 12-percent mill-levy increase, rather than the 5 percent currently being deliberated.
If one looks at the proposed budget, the spending is not increased a great deal from last year. The difference is the revenue — a loss in investment income, for one. Another is a significant loss in prisoner care income from other counties. However, just because the prisoners aren’t coming from other counties, our jail is not empty and still requires jailers.
Those who were in attendance at our public budget meeting did not identify any services currently being provided which should be cut or eliminated. It was also stated by many in attendance that there was a clear correlation between county taxes paid and the value received in said services. In the future, that forum would be a good one for others to attend to make their opinions known.
Many increases that can be found in the proposed budget are items that the county is not mandated to provide — $40,000 for our “share” of a new ambulance that will be the property of the city; $21,000 for yet another community clean-up project; and $13,000 in L-Cat services even though the majority of rides are within the City of Emporia.
The county commissioners are not the reckless rubes as some would like to portray them. Because of prudent spending, the courthouse bonds have been paid down quicker than expected to prevent the county having to pay huge interest rates and will enable the bonds to be paid off almost eight years early. Many departments have tight budgets that have little room for change, and when possible, funds are carried over to the next year.
As of this moment, the budget has not yet been approved so we do not yet know the final decision. I can only speak for myself in saying that I deny media’s and others’ contention that money is being wasted. I feel confident that the Lyon County Board of County Commissioners will make a decision which is the most responsible way of using the taxpayers’ money to provide needed services.
This has been Thursday Thoughts.
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
This is what I had to say at the public meeting. Valuations will be down at least 15% this year and Sheriff sales will peak in the summer of 2011. Are you allowing for this. I asked how are we doing on funding Pension and Health Care? Newman Hospital I think will have some major problems this next year. The population of Lyon County has not changed much from 1960 when we had a sheriff, under sheriff and a Deputy, now we have 22 cars going all over Lyon County. We need to cut expenses now. The Gazette nor KVOE made mention of any of my message although there was a picture on the front page. I also said, "the Lyon County Commission is doing a better job than the City Commission." I agree with Mr. Briggs who said that some of the functions that the county funds should be funded or helped by private donations.
September 4, 2010 at 10:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporian (anonymous) says...
KB,
Actually the county is the one madated to provide ambulance service, they just have a good deal going with the city. $40k is a small price to pay considering.
September 4, 2010 at 11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
What department do those 22 cars belong to? What services do they provide? How many of them have high mileage? I think you'll be surprised if you look into this, reddog. Many more things are going on that require transportation than did in 1960.
My question relates to the long list of unpaid property taxes. Why isn't someone doing more to collect all that? Some are in the hands of real estate companies.
September 5, 2010 at 10:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
How do I write this without someone bring up old news and their views? Let me start by saying I am not "attacking" Commissioner Walters.
In her statement she stated;
"I can only speak for myself in saying that I deny media’s and others’ contention that money is being wasted. "
After going back and reading Mr. Sauders and Mr. Walkers articles, (and the resulting blog comments), I found only 1 mention of wasted tax dollars and it was neither Sauder or Walker who mentioned it.
I would assume that all of our elected officials all have their own personal household budgets that are not unlimited.
They, (like us), have to balance them with the money available. Sometimes we HAVE to make hard decisions. We don't like to and sometimes cuts are hard, but we HAVE to do it in order to survive.
For Commissioner Walters to use the term "wasted" may give us some insight into her thinking. Does she think money is being wasted? If so, it is her obligation to stop it. If not, then no problem.
It is however, all of the commissioners jobs to budget within the taxpayers means to support the government.
Is it a hard job? Yes, your actions will displease someone.
But it is the job you ran for. You know, elected office and all.
So let's all "Buck Up" and quit the whining and do the job you were all elected to do.
September 5, 2010 at 10:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Good Job on paying off the courthouse bonds early !
See I can be positive;>)
September 5, 2010 at 10:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Create, the controler said the 22 cars I was referring to are patrol cars, if you add all the other cars for appraisers and etc. I think you would be amazed. Some Real Estate companies, investors and individuals bunch taxes into two years for tax reasons but, they do have to pay a penalty.
September 5, 2010 at 10:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
reddog, thanks for the info on the cars. I didn't realize we had so many patrol cars. My mistake.
With regard to property taxes, you're right to say "some." Not all those on that very long list are real estate companies. There are many more individuals who pay just the tax on the one year that will get them by. Sure they have to pay a penalty too, but how much is that penalty compared to the amount of interest on a loan were they to make one to pay all their taxes? It's a racket.
Sure it's within the law, but in the meantime, the rest of us who are up to date are trying our best to prop up the whole shebang and our arms are getting tired.
September 6, 2010 at 6:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
create and reddog,
It would be a GREAT piece of reporting by one of the Gazette's new reporters if they did a before and after story on some of the county department budgets and operations.
You know compare the counties population, crime stats, employees, cars, trucks and special vehicles, drug forfeiture vehicles, salaries, cases filed, and settled with say, 10 or 15 years ago.
Has the counties population kept up with the growth in the law enforcement and county attorney's office?
Also if we are losing over $400,000.00 a year in out of county prisoner care, the budget at the jail MUST be cut.
I know reddog went to the county budget meeting and spoke, did they listen to him at all?
Do the commissioners really want all of us to show up at their meetings. As it is now, it seems the only ones going are county department heads, explaining why they can't cut their budgets.
Do they really want a bunch of angry taxpayers at their meetings. I think they should consider themselves lucky that we just voice our concerns on blogs and e-mails to them. But if they don't start listening to the public outcry, it will be necessary to bring our concerns to them face to face.
And with the mood nowadays, that could be a you tube moment.
Tomorrow , there is a county tax sale with 57 properties being auctioned off for non-payment of taxes.
There are 2 and 1/2 pages of delinquent tax legal notices in the Gazette. We have not seen the worst in our economy and they better start planning ahead for all of our sakes.
September 6, 2010 at 8:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
A NOTE TO OUR STATE LEGISLATORS;
Maybe one of you could introduce a bill raising the interest rate and penalties on unpaid property taxes so it is not economically feasible to not pay them on time?
September 6, 2010 at 8:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
This is the best idea I've heard yet, Steve. Right on!
I also like what you said about us all showing up at a commission meeting. I've seen that meeting room full to capacity a time or two. It ain't impossible to rally the troops.
September 6, 2010 at 9:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
We could rally the troops, but would the meeting end like this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbSvPt...
September 6, 2010 at 10:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
We the people are the victim of the largest organized syndicate in the world--The U.S. Government--local, state and federal. This has been called the biggest game in town. Composite government has taken over the financial wealth of America. 30 years ago 8% of the financial activity and owenership was government--this has grown to a convervative 48%. We the people need to expose the Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports. The question is--Do the people of this great land own the government or do the collective governments think they own the people?
September 6, 2010 at 11:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Our City and County Commissioners are accountable to us and it's time we hold them accountable with genuine liabilty and cause the profits of government activity to directly benefit the people: If you have time, find all you can on the internet about Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports--This is a real eye-opener. All over our nation it is a run away freight train. We the public have left the vault door open. If the trend does not stop the government will own 85% of this country. What Emporia needs is--EMPORIA'S ECONOMIC VICTORY INITIATIVE.
September 6, 2010 at 11:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporian (anonymous) says...
I wasn't able to attend the county meeting due to work, but I did email them a list of areas for possible cuts. I also send them emails on issues that arise. I have only ever got one response back and it was from Commissioner Walters thanking me for voicing my opinion. Apparently that went unheaded because they still raised taxes.
September 6, 2010 at 1:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bobhornet (anonymous) says...
I've about had it with this community being lectured to by Commissioner Walters on one issue or another. It's been going on for years and the residents of Emporia and Lyon County shouldn't stand for it. It's high time that Walters and our other elected representatives realize that they are part of this community and not above it.
We're all in this together, but I personally will not stand for being talked down to by Walters or any other representatives!
September 6, 2010 at 1:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
September 6, 2010 at 5:40 p.m. ( permalink )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
If you have a couple of hours you might want to check out the video Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports Exposed alex jones......This is a good one!
September 6, 2010 at 6:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Quack (anonymous) says...
The best way to deal with Commissioner Walters is to get someone better to run, work for that person, then get out and vote. And it'll take someone who lives in the NW district. Phil Winter would have been a great Commissioner in that seat- Now, next election, do we see Commissioner Walters run for Jim Barnett's Senate seat?
September 6, 2010 at 7:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pizza (anonymous) says...
I can remember listening to my dad and some of his friends many years ago talking about taxes. Old men, of which I am now one, love to bitch about taxes. I doubt that will ever change.
A couple of points some of you should consider would be that one or more of you could run for commissioner, either city or county. In the current election the county commissioner had no competition for either the primary or the general election. Either everyone is happy with him for is unwilling to put out the effort to run against him. It is a thankless job and I know he takes many nasty phone calls from people who won't even identify themselves. I personally think he has done a great job. You think you could do better....throw your hat in the ring and that would include the two media experts who are so free with their criticism.
Secondly, the city is getting accolades for passing a budget with no mill increase...BS what do you call spending 3/4 of a million of savings just to balance the budget. What will they do next year when the savings is gone? Look out for a whopper of a mill increase just to get by with present expenditures. It's going to happen unless we have a real improvement in the economy. The county, on the other hand is making a budget where they do not have to go into savings and will pay all their expenses with current revenue. Which is smarter? Anybody who has run a business knows the answer to that one.
September 6, 2010 at 7:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pizza (anonymous) says...
Whoever wrote the editorial, who seems to have no name, doesn't understand a mill levy. A 12 mill increase is not necessarily a 12% increase.
September 6, 2010 at 8:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
If you have time watch the video "The Biggest Game in Town" about the Government CAFR wealth shell game.
September 6, 2010 at 8:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
If you have more time You Tube Reality Report Walter Burien Special Interview.
September 6, 2010 at 10:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Quack (anonymous) says...
Who did write this? It is unattributed. Maybe the County Could save $40,000.00 by not helping purchase an ambulance, but then, who says the city would have to provide service to the area outside the city limits without such help? How expensive would it become for the county to start up a new ambulance service from scratch, vs helping pay for new units? The author is making a stupid comment if saving money is the real goal, when cost and service sharing are best represented by the way our city/county ambulance service works.
September 6, 2010 at 10:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
b3bill (anonymous) says...
What a poorly written article. This would easily get an F in any journalism class.
There is no identification of the author. There is no way to tell who said what, except Jon Bon Jovi. Why should readers have to guess who said what? There is no understanding of a mill levy (as pizza pointed out above). Who is the "I" in the last paragraph...Bugs Bunny or Donald Duck?
It appears the Gazette doesn't have many qualified employees do much proof reading or this substandard article would not have been released. As a subscriber, I am expecting the Gazette to realize this is a very poor article and to make immediate improvements in all further articles.
If it is really true that people from all over the nation or the world are reading The Gazette online and following these comments, then I think The Gazette should be very embarrassed with the writing of this article.
September 6, 2010 at 11:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
First sentence:
"Editor’s note: These comments were presented during commissioner comments at Thursday’s Lyon County Commission meeting."
I would take that to mean that they are quotes from one or multiple unidentified citizen(s) during the public comment portion. Do they all make sense? No. Are they all well informed? No. But the explanation of them was clearly stated, I thought, as an overview of the public sentiment that was expressed at the session.
BTW, in the first post here, reddog laid claim to them which would explain the lack of cohesiveness in them, but who knows?
September 6, 2010 at 11:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
It was while making newspaper deliveries for the Kansas City Star, trying to miss the flowers and hit the porch, that I first realized the importance of being exactly correct in journalism.
September 7, 2010 at 12:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
oh4theluvof very good point. The very first sentence made it clear that what followed was a sample of comments made during the meeting, not definitive coverage of the meeting. At least that was clear to me. Apparently not as clear to others.
When I was working in journalism such a piece would have been called a sidebar and would have ran in conjunction with the more definitive article.
September 7, 2010 at 4:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
My read on the piece was that some of the comments were selected precisely because they didn't display a great deal of understanding about the process and were made by the general public. That might also explain why they were not attributed to anyone.
September 7, 2010 at 4:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
I should have quit while I was ahead. Another read tells me the comments were made by the commissioners not the general public...Mia Culpa.
The very last sentence however...." This has been Thursdays Thoughts."..... further confirms the piece as a sidebar. It was never intended as definitive coverage.
September 7, 2010 at 5:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
In the print version, it has a picture of Mother Teresa (Walters, not the Saint) which led me to believe she was being credited with piece.
September 7, 2010 at 5:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
That's a good point neighbor.....and you may be correct. One thing that can be said with some certainty, no matter how it was intended, the article has left a lot of us confused.
September 7, 2010 at 6:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
The comments were from Commissioner Walters.
The last sentence: "This has been Thursdays Thoughts", was a poke at Steve Sauders,
Wed. Words editorial on KVOE.
September 7, 2010 at 6:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Editor’s note: These comments were presented during commissioner comments at Thursday’s Lyon County Commission meeting.
READ THE PART ;
"during commissioners comments"
September 7, 2010 at 7:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
"Those who were in attendance at our public budget meeting did not identify any services currently being provided which should be cut or eliminated."
BS. I could not attend the meeting, but I did write my suggestions and mailed it to them using my name. In return, just a curt thanks for writing. Like I said, BS.
"It was also stated by many in attendance that there was a clear correlation between county taxes paid and the value received in said services. In the future, that forum would be a good one for others to attend to make their opinions known. "
What these commissioners don't realize is that many of us simply cannot attend their meetings for one good reason or another. But it sounds like they don't plan on listening to us if they don't see our faces. Like I said, BS.
Maybe we should all attend, surprise them. Hopefully, we don't end up like the scenario Steve posted, but hey, who's to say that wouldn't wake 'em up and shake 'em up. I can think of a few I'd like to whack with my tagboard sign.
And whoopdeedoo, you paid off the courthouse early. What did you do with the savings?
September 7, 2010 at 8:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
oh4 and biscuitboy,
i had to chuckle while reading your posts about the comments sounding "uninformed and making no sense."
And,
"that some of the comments were selected precisely because they didn't display a great deal of understanding about the process "
That's our commissioner!
Good to see you back biscuitboy !
September 7, 2010 at 8:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
create,
The savings on the courthouse are being used every year to make repairs on the poorly designed courthouse.
Who in there right minds would build with all that brick and concrete and NOT put expansion joints in?
Where was the city building inspector?
September 7, 2010 at 8:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_Y50h...
September 7, 2010 at 8:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
The part of the " Thursday Thoughts " article that made me do some serious thinking about what is going to be the next large debt causing expenditure on the County' s Budget was the following paragraph, " Because of prudent spending, the courthouse bonds have been paid down quicker than expected to prevent the county having to pay huge interest rates and will enable the bonds to be paid off almost eight years early. "
This particular comment suggests to me that because the unnecessary " debt " and expense that such an unneeded, massive Court House and debt will or is soon to be paid off ... makes me wonder if the County Commissioners ( Commissioner ) do not have another massive expenditure project in mind to try and push certain of Emporia and Lyon County residents agenda of making Emporia and Lyon County into some semblance of their " worshiped " City, County or place they are obsessed with .
September 7, 2010 at 8:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Steve....Thank You!
The same thought occurred to me my friend. While I was not thinking about the commissioners when I made the statement, as the old saying goes, if the shoe fits...wear it.
September 7, 2010 at 8:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sail (anonymous) says...
What we have here ,is management by crisis.
September 7, 2010 at 6:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
LOL, thanks for catching and clarifying that, Steve and biscuitboy. You are correct that it makes our observations pretty funny!
September 7, 2010 at 9:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Sail, that was profound!!
September 7, 2010 at 11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
I see the staff censered one of my comments on commissioner Walters and now for the rest of the story-- I have a very good sourse, a proff ar ESU who told me that commissioner Walters was stopped for and detained for being over the limit on drinking and as I recall, she has something to do with drug treatment. They let her go and now you know the rest of the story before the Emporia Gazette puts a quit eatis to it.
September 7, 2010 at 11:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Has Anyone else on here heard this?
September 11, 2010 at 4:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
No.
September 11, 2010 at 5:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
O.K.
;>)
September 11, 2010 at 5:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
LOL, well you know how those ESU proff's are in real tight with law enforcement. ???
September 11, 2010 at 7:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )