By Roger McKinney
rmckinney@joplinglobe.com
COLUMBUS, Kan. — Acknowledging the ailing economy and residents who complained of increased taxes, the Cherokee County Commission this week reduced the spending amount and tax rate from what it had proposed.
The County Commission on Tuesday approved a 2009 budget with total spending of $14,241,985. That is $267,554 less than the proposed $14,509,539 budget that had been published. The approved budget represents an increase of $287,732 — about 2 percent — from estimated spending of $13,954,253 this year.
The tax rate corresponding with the approved budget is 53.815 mills. That’s a reduction from 55.998 mills in the proposed budget, but an increase from 51.324 mills under the current budget.
The new tax rate would result in property taxes of $618.87 on a house with a $100,000 market value. The homeowner paid property taxes to the county totaling $590.23 this year. Under the proposed budget, the homeowner would have paid property taxes of $643.98.
Those totals don’t include property-tax amounts related to city, state or school district budgets.
“Our population is declining, plus our taxes are increasing, and that’s creating more of a tax burden on each of us,” said county resident Mark Sell, who was with an organized group of residents and business people at the public hearing on the budget.
He said the group was asking the commission not approve the proposed budget.
“We’re not wanting to be part of the problem,” said Dave Soper, of Columbus. “We want to be part of the solution.”
Columbus resident Charlie Norris complained about the County Commission’s purchase of 12 new road graders last year, costing about $2 million. The annual payment on the graders is $278,000.
Commissioner Pat Collins bristled at the comment. He said the graders the county had before the new ones were purchased were primarily from 1988 and were costing the county too much to maintain. He said they also were inoperable much of the time.
“That’s the best purchase this county has ever made,” Collins said.
The residents also brought up spending by the Sheriff’s Department.
“There’s no way to hold that sheriff accountable?” asked Columbus resident and car dealer Mike Carpino.
“No, sir,” said Commissioner Rodney Edmondson. He said voters next month will be electing a new sheriff who will take office in January.
Edmondson told the residents at the hearing that he wanted to reduce the budget from what had been proposed, if possible.
“Look at the economy,” Edmondson said. “Look at everything that’s going on. We need to step up.”
Commissioner Charlie Napier said he agreed that it was necessary to make some difficult decisions.
“I think it’s time we all tighten our belts,” he said.
A motion by Collins to approve the proposed budget as published died when there was no second. Then, the commissioners began looking for ways to reduce the proposed budget with Joplin, Mo., accountants Gene Mense and Matt Mense. The accountants prepared the budget for the county.
During the discussion, County Attorney John Bullard, Register of Deeds Christy Grant and Appraiser Nancy Herrenbruck consented to a 1 percent decrease from their proposed department budgets. Treasurer Juanita Hodgson consented to a $180,000 budget, the same amount as this year. Spending of $185,000 had been proposed.
The commissioners also reduced the amount of increase proposed for the Sheriff’s Department, and the road and bridge department.
“That’s as far as I’m going,” Collins said when the reductions had reached the level the commissioners approved. “Sorry. You’ve got to have money to operate.”
Herrenbruck was skeptical about the new proposal.
“We can’t do it,” she said. “If gas goes back up, we’ll be laying people off.”
Herrenbruck said someone should tell the business people that when people are unemployed, they don’t buy cars or houses, or remodel their houses.
Federal deduction
Accountant Gene Mense said that under a new measure approved in Congress, taxpayers may deduct on their federal income taxes up to $1,000 on a joint return or $500 for a single filer for property taxes.
Local News
Cherokee County board trims increase in spending, taxes
- Local News
-
-
City wants to buy weather radios for those without
Phil Jones had been working on a construction project outside his house all day on May 22 and was unaware that a tornado watch had been issued. Once he was inside, though, his weather radio went off, and he learned that a warning had been issued.
-
Architects present preliminary JHS plans at community meeting
Reaction appeared mostly supportive Thursday night among the roughly 50 people who attended a community meeting at which architects presented their preliminary site plans for the future combined Joplin High School and Franklin Technology Center.
-
Confessed shooter testifies against co-defendants in Pittsburg murder case
Rickey Smith testified Thursday that as he came in the back door of Ryan Bailey’s home in Pittsburg with a 9 mm pistol in his hand, Bailey looked up from the couch in his living room.
-
School district’s proposed street-closing plan questioned
Plans to close some streets near the proposed Joplin High School drew questions, including a challenge from a former Joplin mayor, during a public hearing this week.
-
Neosho council approves new golf cart contract
The purchase of golf carts was back on the agenda this week for the Neosho City Council. City Attorney Steve Hays said there were errors in the financing terms that were part of a bid approved last month for the purchase of 55 gas-powered carts from E-Z-Go for $144,195, so the purchase of a new fleet was rebid.
-
Mike Pound: Spirit of competition evident during double-overtime game
When I played basketball in high school, I played in several very close games.
Now, some people who may have known me in high school are probably laughing right now and saying, “What Mike meant to say is that when he was in high school, he came very close to playing in some games.” -
Mo. optometrist filed $40 million refund claim
A southwest Missouri optometrist who filed a tax return claiming a $40 million refund has been sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison.
-
Okla. receives waiver from No Child Left Behind
Oklahoma’s top education official reacted with glee Thursday with the announcement that the state is one of 10 states being granted a waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind law that requires students be proficient in reading and math by 2014 — but focused on getting students to “just pass the tests.”
-
Kan. House approves bipartisan redistricting bill
Power in the Kansas House is likely to shift next year from rural parts of the state to the Kansas City area after members overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan bill Thursday for redrawing their districts.
-
Fugitive in 1993 British heist arrested in Ozark
A man suspected of stealing about $1.5 million from a security van in England in 1993 has been arrested in southwest Missouri.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
