Legislation recently passed in Topeka continues to concern Reno County Commissioners. The bill which will have an effect on city and county governments and how much they can raise taxes with the state passing the legislation putting a tax lid on what they can do.
According to the legislation, anything over the rate of inflation would have to be approved by voters. County Commissioner Brad Dillon says his concern is that it covers not just the mill levy, but the budget as a whole. He asked that County Administrator Gary Meagher get with Hutchinson City Manager John Deardoff and try to set up a meeting with Senator Terry Bruce to hear his thinking on the legislation and whether he was for it, but also give them a chance to voice their concerns. Dillon called this legislation “unsettling.”
Commissioner Deming also suggested inviting the other Reno County legislators to the meeting which Dillon didn’t opposed, however Dillon noted that his focus is on Senator Bruce because the legislation was introduced in the Senate.
The legislation as approved won’t take effect until 2018, but that could mean cities and counties would raise taxes between now and then to avoid the limits that would take effect at that time.
Dillon said he would like the meeting to be set up within the next two months. We’ll let you know when such a meeting is scheduled.