Several community residents came forward with ideas on how to spend public funding during a public budget hearing Thursday night, March 1, at the Unified Government Commission meeting.
The Unified Government held its first public budget hearing on March 1, and a second public budget hearing is scheduled for July 30.
Make sure funds are getting to youth programs
Kerry Ross, a resident of Kansas City, Kansas, said she would like the UG to make sure that the funds that are given to the Fair Foundation or the Fair Association filter down to the 4-H youth.
She said there were currently difficulties in 4-H youth being allowed to use the Wyandotte County Fairgrounds for 4-H activities, particularly for programs involving animals. The 4-H events were not allowed on the same days the shooting range is operating, she said. She added they were allowed to use the fairgrounds only one day a month, for six hours.
Daniel Harris, Bonner Springs, asked the commission to put some checks and balances in place to make sure the funds to the Fair Foundation or Fair Association actually were going to the kids of Wyandotte County. The 4-H horse and dog program here do not have a home, he said.
“We need to not give up on these kids,” he said.
Hold the line on property taxes
Murrel Bland, executive director of Business West, asked the UG and other governments to hold the line on property taxes.
“Property taxes are a major consideration when it comes to residential development,” he said. “Although last year saw an improvement in housing development numbers, Wyandotte County still lags when compared to other areas. High taxes are to blame.”
Do some repairs on Parallel Parkway
Marcia Rupp, a Kansas City, Kansas, resident, asked for more road repairs on Parallel Parkway, and had a list of locations where repairs were needed. She also said she wanted the Fire Department and Police Department to get what they want, plus she also mentioned the Sheriff’s Department as important. She recommended that the code enforcement staff have meetings with neighborhood groups to find out where problems are. She also asked the commission not to pave a street and then tear it up again to do more work.
Consider working together with Piper schools on green space
Piper Superintendent Tim Conrad asked the UG Commission to consider working together on green space for youth. He said a soccer club in Piper now has 40 teams, and the Optimists there are sponsoring 10 to 25 teams, and there is a need for playing fields.
The Piper school district is using 40 acres of its 75-acre property at 131st and Leavenworth Road for a new third through fifth grade building. He said there is an opportunity for the UG to consider joining in a partnership with Piper and developing land into green space for practice fields for soccer and football playing fields. The district and UG could work together to do site development and budget work, he said.
“We’re certainly willing to partner with you and explore additional opportunities and conversations,” Conrad said.
Fund the Downtown Improvement District
Lynn Kuluva, chairman of the advisory board of the Downtown Shareholders and the Downtown Improvement District, said the advisory board is recommending the UG allocate $125,000 next year to pay for the UG’s portion of the district’s cost in that year.
He said the UG is a major property owner in the district, with several buildings in the district. The Downtown Improvement District provides clean and safe services for the area, he said. When people come to the downtown area for UG business, UG events and other events, the goal is for them to find downtown KCK as a clean and safe place to come. “But that costs money,” he added.
When the district was formed, property owners were told the UG would pay $150,000 a year to cover its share of expenses, but it hasn’t been able to do so, Kuluva said. Last year, the advisory board recommended $125,000, but the UG authorized $100,000 and directed staff to increase the mill levy on private property owners to make up the difference, he said.
“That really wasn’t right; it’s detrimental to our efforts to try and rebuild the downtown,” he said. “We want the downtown businesses to succeed, thrive; we want to attract more businesses and increasing the tax load on them is counter-productive.”
There was $357.9 million in the current UG budget, according to Reginald Lindsey, UG budget director. The proposed 2019 budget will be announced at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 12, at the county administrator’s budget presentation.
Another public hearing on the budget will be held at 5 p.m. July 30. Budget adoption is scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 2.
The UG Commission meeting March 1 is online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zASAKdCPUI4.