There is a lot going on at the state level that impacts counties on the local level, Barton County commissioners learned when they attended the Kansas Association of Counties annual meeting.

The meeting took place last Monday through Wednesday in Overland Park. When the commission met Monday morning, attendees offered their insights. 

“We want them to leave our city and county governments along,” said Commissioner Alicia Straub, summing up her thoughts on the meeting. “The state should focus on two things, education and roads.”

Straub joined commission Chairwoman Jennifer Schartz and Commissioner Kenny Schremmer in attending the gathering that prompted the cancelation of their meeting last Monday.

On the lighter side, Straub said they learned from a comedian-speaker who offered lessons based on the success of the rock band The Beatles. “All of us brought back some good leadership skills from that presentation.”

But, there are many serious issues looming for the state’s 105 counties, particularly as issues that distance eastern, urban areas from western, rural ones. 

Attendees said the conference included several break-out sessions dealing with a variety of topics. 

They ranged from:

• The local impact of federal Supreme Court cases. 

• The importance of knowing what local mental health services are available. “We need to look at what are the issues at the local level,” Straub said.

From increased medicating of children to depression among farmers, suicide rates have increased, she said. “It’s something we are doing as a society.”

However, when it came to partnerships within communities, Straub was proud of efforts locally. “We do a good job here in Barton County.”

But, more can be done, Schartz said. It is the role of the county to take a leadership role.

• Community colleges. Schartz said there are 19 counties in Kansas with community colleges, and 84 without. So, what is the impact on the taxpayers?

“Colleges are an important piece of the economic puzzle,” she said. But, residents in the 19 counties are basically subsidizing education at these institutions.

“They feel a disproportionate burden,” she said. Although commissioners from these 19 counties understood the benefits of having a college, they all felt this needs to be addressed.

Schartz said it is possible for local college trustees to charge a higher tuition for out-of-county students. And, Barton Community College now offers full tuition/book scholarships to qualified Barton County graduates.

“Education is definitely changing,” Straub said. More students are opting for certificate-type programs in lieu of four-year degrees, making community colleges a more important part of the educational equation.

• Taxes/property appraisals. In addition to what commissioners said was a general lack of understanding of tax issues by state officials, there is also a push to eliminate county appraisers.

The idea is to have appraisals done by state appraisers instead. Pushed by larger counties, this is adamantly opposed by Barton and other rural counties. 

Smaller counties see it as another attempt by the state to usurp local control.

Other issues

Another key agenda item was the KAC’s 2019 Legislative Policy Statement, a wish list of priority items counties want the Legislature to address when it meets starting in January.

2018 legislative priorities

1. Constitutional home rule – KAC favors enacting constitutional home rule for counties — a change that will place local leaders in the best position to serve Kansas.

2. Property tax lid – KAC supports complete repeal of the tax lid. In the absence of repeal, KAC supports correcting the unworkable procedures in the tax lid to ensure a practical law for local officials.

3. Election commissioners – KAC favors legislation that allows counties to oversee the budgets and personnel policies affecting county operations to ensure accountability to local taxpayers and the community.

4. Tax valuation and appeals – KAC supports a fair and consistent approach to valuation, and KAC supports taxation that reflects the services furnished and funded by counties. Similarly, KAC favors procedural changes to the tax appeals process that are balanced and sensible for both the taxpayer and the counties.

5. Medicaid expansion – KAC supports expansion of the Kansas Medicaid program to extend healthcare coverage for at-risk Kansans and supports the pursuit of public health.

6. Mental health and jails – KAC supports limiting incarceration of the mentally ill in county jails. Furthermore, we support greater effort for accessible treatment to address mental illness and substance-use disorders.

7. State funding – KAC opposes deferring payments to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System and sweeping funds intended for transportation. Kansas needs a structured and balanced state budget. Our counties also support the Federal Funds Exchange Program and other partnership efforts between Kansas and its counties.

8. Broadband access – KAC supports policies that enable broadband development (high-speed internet) and access to improve economic development, telemedicine care, and government efficiency.

9. Federal taxes – KAC supports the preservation of federal tax deductions for local taxes (SALT) and tax exemptions for municipal bonds.

The Kansas Association of Counties serves Kansas counties by acting as a liaison with other levels of government, presenting the county position on state issues, and advocating legislative policies that advance the interest of Kansas counties.