Due to the Great Recession, both individuals and governmental entities have had to make cuts and forgo without raises.
Throughout the past few years, some schools from throughout the state have been forced to consolidate due to declining budgets and declining enrollment.
Maybe some critical cuts have been overlooked.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Kansas has 3,807 governmental units, making it 5th in the nation. We have townships, rural water districts, cemetery districts and 105 counties.
Various representatives have suggested consolidating some of those entities over the years.
Consolidation is never easy, but it is no longer necessary to have the county seat within a day’s ride on a horse. Many states have many fewer counties, and function just fine.
Colorado has a many fold increase in population, but only 48 counties.
Many of the entities do not have employees dedicated only to that unit, but it still takes time for whomever else keeps track of those entities time. Time that could be spent on other responsibilities.
The idea is not fun, but if it were done sensitively, and with common sense from all concerned parties, a lot of money could be saved. Consolidating down to 50 counties would save a lot of money. Lines could be redrawn not in the current rectangles, but in more circular lines.
With looming deficits projected to be in the 2.5 billion range, this is an idea whose time has come.

Karen La Pierre