When I was governor of Kansas for much of the 1980s, both sides of the aisle focused on the success of our state.
Sure, we had disagreements on how to attain success. But at the end of each day, I had no doubt our public servants were rooting for Kansans.
No longer do I have such confidence. I’m vastly disappointed in members of the current Republican Party in our state and their submission to extremism. They don’t recognize their positions as an honor and privilege to serve. In fact, I don’t believe the word “service” is even in their vernacular.
We can debate ideology till the cows come home. But there is one word central to so many of our policy disagreements: taxes. That word cuts across all political language. We all pay taxes with the understanding that we’re paying for services we may or may not use. We pay taxes so our police and firefighters are trained and ready to respond. We pay taxes for our children to get a good education and participate in our society so one day we can retire with things in good hands. We pay taxes so our roads are safe, and our parks function.
Well, it seems we have a breakdown in the system.
My local Democratic candidate for the Kansas House, Kim Zito, has rightfully and thoughtfully resurrected the fact that the state government is not upholding its fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers.
This is an issue all Kansans who pay sales tax, who use roads and parks, and all Kansans who just received in the mail their 2022 notice of estimated ad valorem taxes must understand.
According to the League of Kansas Municipalities, local communities have lost at least $3.2 billion since 2001 because the government decided to stop funding demand transfers.
As Zito points out, the state’s Local Ad Valorem Property Tax Reduction Fund is required by statute to transfer 3.63% of state sales tax revenue to counties and municipalities. In exchange, those local entities must reduce mill levies.
Without this transfer of monies to communities, residents and property owners must make up the shortfall in order to balance local budgets.
Take Manhattan, where my wife and I reside, for example. Our city’s parks and recreation department is struggling to provide programs because of budget constrictions — this, despite the projected 7.4% hike in property taxes.
Zito is well aware of the ongoing challenges that parks and rec has been facing, as she has a 5-year-old son who’s ripe for the department’s activities.
Likewise, Zito understands the impact a property tax increase has on a household budget already under pressure, while income has remained flat. Her tenacity to research the Kansas state government’s obligations and subsequent dereliction of duties should be noted by every single resident and voter in the state.
She rightly accuses the party that has had control of the state Legislature for 29 years — 16 of those while also holding the governor’s office — of ignoring a statute that’s been around since the 1930s.
This year marks the midterms, which usually see a dip in turnout. I urge all Kansans eligible to vote to be sure they’re registered, and to commit to casting a ballot in this election Nov. 8 (with early voting beginning Oct. 19).
