Tuesday, July 15, 2014
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Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas

State Laws Take Damaging Toll on UG Budget

Decisions made by the Kansas Legislature continue to eliminate traditional, once reliable sources of revenue for the Unified Government and burden local taxpayers with added expenses. Despite positive improvements in the overall economy and major new developments in Wyandotte County, the Unified Government is losing tens of millions of dollars to pay for police, fire, streets and others services and programs because of the Kansas Legislature.

 

Despite those financial pressures, the 2015 Proposed Budget unveiled by County Administrator Doug Bach does not increase the Unified Government property tax rate. The total KCK city and Wyandotte county property tax mill levy will remain at the current 82 mills.

 

"This budget proposal recommends a path to confront the difficult budget challenges facing the Unified Government next year, while still addressing many of the strategic goals and budget guidelines directed by the Unified Government Commission," Bach said.

 

The budget proposal recommends increasing the Wyandotte County property tax rate by 2 mills, while lowering the KCK City property tax rate by 2 mills. This action keeps the overall Unified Government tax rate at its current level of 82 mills, but creates more financial stability in the county budget and equitably shares the costs of countywide services among all Wyandotte County residents.

 

But during the first budget workshop Monday, the Commission instead voted to raise the county tax rate 2 mills and the city rate 2 mills, potentially taking the total UG property tax rate from 82 mills to 86 mills. That move gives the Commission more leeway in shaping what will be the final budget. The Commission can still lower the mill levy but can't increase it beyond the 86 mills.

 

A mill is $1 in tax for every $1,000 of assessed value on the property being taxed.

 

The Proposed 2015 Unified Government Budget recommends total expenditures of $295,817,522. The City general fund is budgeted at $136,374,355. The County general fund is proposed at $51,922,400.

 

Even with a 2 mill increase in the county tax rate as proposed by Bach, Wyandotte County would still have one of the lowest county property tax rates in Kansas. Wyandotte County ranks 96th out 105 Kansas counties. Only nine counties out of 105 have a lower county property tax.

 

The Unified Government receives only 45% of the total tax bill paid by a resident in the KCK School District. In the Turner School District it's 42% and in the Piper School District it's 47%. Public schools, the Kansas City Kansas Community College, KCK Public Library and State of Kansas make up the largest portion of the tax bill-from 58% to 53% depending on the school district.

 

The current Unified Government property rate is still much lower than before the city and county consolidated in 1997. Back then it was 97 mills. Today it's 82 mills. That's 16% less than a decade and a half ago.

 

The decision in 2006 to eliminate the property tax on industrial machinery and equipment is costing the Unified Government $10-million a year in revenue. Since 2006, Wyandotte County has lost $130-million in assessed value from machinery and equipment. The decision to eliminate the machinery and equipment tax, while positive for business, continues to take a devastating toll on Unified Government revenues.

 

This year, the Kansas Legislature, pressured by community bankers and realtors, eliminated the mortgage registration fee which has been in place since 1925, shifting a financial cost from banks and homebuyers who take out mortgages, to all property taxpayers. The Unified Government will lose an estimated $500,000 in 2015 with annual losses growing to an estimated $1.8-million in five years.

 

While both measures passed overwhelmingly, the entire Wyandotte County Legislative Delegation opposed repeal of the Machinery and Equipment tax in 2006 and elimination of the Mortgage Registration Fee in 2014.

 

2015 Proposed Unified Government Budget Highlights

  • The 2015 Proposed Budget does not call for major reductions in basic services.
  • Continues the Commission Neighborhood Infrastructure Program (CNIP).
  • Funds TV broadcasts of all Unified Government Commission meetings on UGTV.
  • Spends $1-million for installation and operation of the new Countywide Emergency Radio system.
  • Absorbs the operating costs of expanded transit routes.
  • Funds studies of Public Safety operations to help determine additional efficiencies.
  • Funds an employee compensation study.
  • Recommends several initiatives to improve customer service.

 

The full 2015 Proposed Budget Message from County Administrator Doug Bach, the budget PowerPoint presentation and the complete 2015 Proposed Budget document are available on the Unified Government website at www.wycokck.org.

 

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2015 Budget Workshop Schedule

Here's the schedule for the budget workshops.

 

  • July 17: 5PM - Budget Workshop
  • July 21: 6PM - Budget Workshop
  • July 24: 5PM - Budget Workshop
  • July 28: 5PM - Final Budget Public Hearing
  • July 31: 5PM - Budget Workshop if necessary
     
               7PM - Commission meeting and Budget Adoption

All budget Workshops will be held in the 5th floor conference room. Budget Presentation and Final Public Hearing will be held in the Commission Chambers.

 

All budget workshops will be broadcast on UGTV. 

 

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Night Out Against Crime

The annual Nigh Out Against Crime event will be held August 5 at 5:00 pm at the National Guard Armory at 18th and Ridge.

 

Join local elected officials and members of the police and sheriff's department for a fun and informational event designed to help community groups work together to fight crime.

 

In addition to guest speakers, the event will also include yo-yo demonstrations and competition for kids and adults. The first 100 adults belonging to a registered neighborhood group will receive a free T-shirt. 

 

Rental Assistance Available

Wyandot Center is accepting applications for rental assistance through a grant awarded to the community mental health center by Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC). Wyandot Center is one of 10 agencies designated to receive funds from KHRC for Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA). Wyandot Center received a $75,000 grant.

 

Sherri Hewitt, Wyandot Center TBRA coordinator, said that to be eligible persons must be Wyandotte County residents who are at or below 60 percent of the area median income, and the head of the household or spouse must be a person with a disability, specifically, mental illness.  There are no restrictions on the number of persons in the household. Receiving services through Wyandot Center is not an eligibility requirement.  Households generally pay no more than 30 percent of their income for rent with assistance from this grant.  Security and utility deposit assistance may also be available.

 

Applications are available at Wyandot Center, 1301 N. 47th Street, Kansas City, KS 66102 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday. Applicants can enter the building marked Adult Services. For more information or to receive an application by mail, contact Hewitt, at 913-288-4247 or [email protected].

 

Funded through the federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program and administered by KHRC, Tenant Based Rental Assistance allows organizations like Wyandot Center to provide rental subsidies for income-eligible individuals. The subsidy acts as short-term housing assistance until other, more permanent housing subsidy funds become available. "TBRA funds help individuals obtain safe, decent, affordable housing in Wyandotte County," Hewitt says. 

 

For more information about Wyandot Center, visit www.wyandotcenter.org.

 

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Advance Voting Begins this Week

The August 5th Primary Election is just around the corner. Advance mail ballots will be sent out this week to voters who applied for them.

 

Wyandotte County voters now have more ways to vote than ever before.

 

Voters will continue to have the three existing options of choosing to (1) vote in advance by mail, (2) vote in advance at the Election Office, or (3) vote at their polling place on Election Day.  This year there will be a new option available - advance voting at a satellite location on the south side of the Kansas Speedway at 110th Street and I-70 (exit 410).  The new site makes voting available to registered voters on both Saturdays before Election Day and the week prior to Election Day.

 

Here are some of the details:

 

  • Early voting at the satellite location (south building at the Kansas Speedway)
    • Hours:  Saturday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    • Monday through Friday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
    • Dates:  Begins Saturday, July 26th, continues July 28th to August 2nd
    • Location: Kansas Speedway at I-70 & 110th Street (Exit 410)
    • This site will offer touchscreen voting only. No paper ballots. 
  • Early voting at the Election Office (850 State Avenue)
    • Hours:  Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Dates:  Begins Tuesday, July 22nd and ends at 12 Noon on August 4th. 
  • Early voting by mail:
    • Applications available now online at www.wycokck.org/election
    • Ballots begin mailing July 16th
    • Voted ballots must be returned by August 5th. 
  • Vote on Election Day, Tuesday, August 5th:
    • Vote at your designated polling place
    • Hours:  7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

 

Your Vote - Your Way!  Choose the option which works best for you.

 

For more information, visit our website at www.wycovotes.org or call 913-573-8500.

 

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New Downtown Shareholders Director 

Downtown Shareholders (DTS) has hired Chuck Schlittler as the organization's new executive director.  

 

Chuck previously spent 5 � years as the executive director of the Fairfax Industrial Association. As the first person to hold that role, he was charged with developing partnerships with principal organizations and individuals in Wyandotte County, including the Unified Government, the Kansas City Kansas Chamber of Commerce, the Wyandotte Economic Development Council, the Kansas City Kansas Police Department and the Board of Public Utilities, among others.

 

"After extensive interviewing and a regional search for a new Executive Director, the Executive Board enthusiastically endorsed Chuck Schlittler as the new Director of Downtown Shareholders," said Bill Hutton, chairman of the DTS Board of Directors. "Chuck's extensive work with the Fairfax Industrial Association and his commitment to Kansas City, Kansas, were just part of the reason we are thrilled to have Chuck working with us."

 

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Road Closure Sign
Road ClosuresConstruction Barrel

Based on information provided by both the UG's Public Works Department and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), we are able to provide motorist living in Wyandotte County an update on road and highway projects.

 

This information can be useful to prepare individuals, commuting to and from work, with early warnings on minor delays. This also encourages motorists to use alternate routes due to land and ramp closures.
  

No UG Closures to Report

 

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KDOT Logo

No KDOT Closures to Report this Week

 

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Daily Lane Closure Highway Project Sign

Remember, you can always go to the KDOT website for up to the minute road closures and traffic information. 

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