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.