Staff writer
Marion County Commission signed a letter drafted to Kansas legislators J. Robert Brookens, Jay Emler, and Jeff Longbine asking them to vote against a bill for a tax exemption.
House Bill 2501 would allow businesses to claim fixed machinery as personal property, exempt for businesses, instead of claiming it as part of a property, which is how it is currently taxed, County Appraiser Cindy Magill said.
“It would erode the tax base,” Magill said. “Mill levies would have to increase.”
A few years ago the personal property exemption was passed and cost the county $700,000. The Kansas Department of Revenue agreed to reimburse counties some of the lost revenue with a sliding payment plan, but only one payment was actually made, Magill said.
Holub said if this exemption would pass it had the potential to cost the county even more.
“The burden will go to residential property owners,” Magill said.
Dispatcher resigns
After accepting a job with Sedgwick County, dispatcher Amy Pharis is leaving. The commission gave Communications Director Linda Klenda permission to advertise for the position.
Counting Pharis, Klenda, and Emergency Management Director Dan D’Albini, there are 10 full-time employees that are trained for dispatch. There is also one part-time employee.
Commissioner Randy Dallke asked if it was necessary to hire a replacement to cover shifts. He also said that two dispatchers, especially when the new jail is completed and safety is not as much of a concern, may not be necessary for every shift.
“My goal is to keep efficiency in place,” Dallke said.
In other business:
- The commission approved a resolution for a record keeping plan to take effect for the eight-to-10 year life span of the bond for the jail and an extra three to five years after that. The county cannot sell the facility for the life span of the bond. The record keeping process will protect the county in the event of an IRS audits.
- The sales tax for April was $49,844, up $2,542 from last year. The special jail sales tax was $44,200.
- The commission approved the solid waste plan with no changes for 2012. Household hazardous waste storage cabinets were approved using a Kansas Department of Health and Environment grant worth $3,000.