Category: Opinions

State representative tells what to expect during 2021 legislative session

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Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

State Rep. Tom Burroughs, D-33rd Dist., offered a preview of what the 2021 Kansas legislative session may look like when it convenes the second week in January.

He spoke to about 60 members of the Congressional Forum via Zoom on Friday, Dec. 18. The forum is a committee of the Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce.

Although tax revenue will be an issue, Rep. Burroughs said legislators did get some good news—that the state has from $700 million to $800 million more in revenue than anticipated.

Rep. Burroughs said the Legislature will be dominated by conservative Republicans, more so than last term.

Among the issues that Rep. Burroughs expects to be debated include congressional and state reapportionment. He said he hoped that legislators can come up with an acceptable plan. The last redistricting, some 10 years ago, ended up in federal district court. He said that he favored a plan in which a bipartisan commission would draw district lines. The federal 2020 census will be used as the basis for redistricting.

Property taxes will be another issue. Small business and residential homeowners often complain when there are substantial increases in property taxes. The Chamber of Commerce, through its Legislative Committee, has suggested that property taxes for business be assessed with a floating 10-year average similar to how agricultural land is assessed.

The issue of STAR bonds will come up again this session, Rep. Burroughs said. Although the use of sales tax revenue bonds has been most successful with developments in Wyandotte County, there have been other projects elsewhere where legislators complain that such incentives have been abused.

Hospitals probably will lobby again for expanded Medicaid coverage, Rep. Burroughs said. However, many legislative observers doubt that the conservative legislators will let it pass.

Burroughs is also a Unified Government commissioner. Daniel Silva, the chamber president, said he is receiving complaints from members who are forced to close at 10 p.m. when neighboring Johnson County businesses can stay open until midnight.

Joe Vaught, a commercial Realtor and a forum member, asked about the status of the American Royal in Village West. Rep. Burroughs said he expects the development to move ahead.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is the executive director of Business West.

Legislative committee prepares for next session

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Opinion

by Murrel Bland

The Kansas Legislature will open its 2021 session on Tuesday, Jan. 13. The Legislative Committee of the Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce is focusing on major issues that are important to its members. The committee is preparing its Legislative Agenda which includes issues similar to past years.

The Legislative Committee, which met last Friday morning, Dec. 11, via Zoom, was briefed on what they might expect this session. One of the issues concerns property taxes. The chamber has favored a law similar to the one that affects agriculture — property taxes are assessed on the basis of a 10-year floating average.

The committee heard from Patrick Vogelsberg, a lobbyist for Kansas Gas Service. He said there is an effort in other states to exclude the use of natural gas as a source of energy. Vogelsberg said such a move could happen here and could substantially increase the cost of energy.

There will be a change in leadership in the Kansas Senate as its president, Susan Wagle, did not seek re-election. The new Senate president will be Ty Masterson of Andover near Wichita. He is a conservative Republican. Ron Ryckman of Olathe will be the speaker of the House. He is also a conservative.

The committee learned that the Legislature generally will be more conservative. That probably means a bill that would expand Medicaid to some 120,000 Kansans has little chance of passing during the next session. The Chamber’s committee has favored expansion of Medicaid.

The committee learned that Gov. Laura Kelly has appointed Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers, a former state senator, as the new state treasurer. The former State Treasurer, Jake LaTurner, has been elected U.S. Representative from the Second District of Kansas.

Speculation is that the new lieutenant govrnor may be David Toland, who is Kansas Secretary of Commerce. If so, Toland would continue to serve as commerce secretary.

State Rep. Tom Burroughs, D-33rd Dist., will speak to the Congressional Forum from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, via Zoom. The forum is a committee of the chamber. Rep. Burroughs is chairman of the Wyandotte County legislative delegation and also a Unified Government commissioner at-large.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is executive director of Business West.

Mayor sees increased development as key to tax issues

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Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

The message from Mayor David Alvey Friday, Nov. 20, was that the solution to Wyandotte County’s problems is to grow the property tax base, not to increase taxes.

Mayor Alvey spoke to about 80 members of the Congressional Forum Friday, Nov. 20, via Zoom. The forum is a committee of the Kansas City, Kansas, Chamber of Commerce.

The tax base continues to increase. Earlier this year it was slightly more than $1.447 billion. The plan is to expand the tax base so there is less dependence on the individual resident and small business. To borrow a phrase out of the cliche closet, “A rising tide raises all boats.”


Although Wyandotte County has made significant strides in attracting development, it falls short when compared with Johnson County. Johnson County’s valuation is more than $11.7 billion.

Mayor Alvey said Kansas City, Kansas, has reduced its mill levy and ranks 14th among Kansas cities. The mill rate in Kansas City, Kansas, has been cut from 44 to 38 mills.

Mayor Alvey praised the efforts of Greg Kindle, the president of the Wyandotte Economic Development Council, and Katherine Carttar, the director of economic development for the Unified Government, for their efforts in attracting new development. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Wyandotte County is on target to attract $1 billion of new and increased development this year.

Recent new attractions include the Menard’s store in Village West. Another Menard’s is planned at I-35 and 18th Street. The mayor also bragged about attracting the Urban Outfitters’ fulfillment center that will be on property on the southeast corner of 118th Street and State Avenue.

The mayor admitted that dealing with the coronavirus has been a serious challenge with furloughed employees at the Unified Government and curfew decisions that have made it difficult on certain small businesses such as restaurants and bars.

In a comment session, Joe Vaught, a commercial Realtor and a member of the Congressional Forum, said that a major drawback to development is the poor quality of schools in the Kansas City, Kansas, District.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and the Piper Press.