Marion County spending ranks high in survey
A study of 15 counties shows Marion County to be among the highest in expenditures.
Janet Griesel of the Office of Local Government, K-State Research and Extension, said road and bridge costs have "consistently accounted for a larger proportion of total spending in Marion County than its peers."
About 55.6 percent of expenditures by Marion County was in the road and bridge department. The 15-county average was 30.8 percent.
Much of the cost involved new paving on several main county roads. It started in 1999 and the bond to fund the roads still is being paid.
"Because you have this huge project underway, Marion County was far and above the other 14 counties," she said.
Griesel said the higher road expenditures aren't necessarily a problem. Marion County has 1,824 road miles, higher than the other 14 counties, she said.
"Local officials must ultimately determine whether the county's revenue and expenditure patterns reflect the needs and priorities they have identified," she said.
The comparison involved the counties of Marion, Allen, Atchison, Bourbon, Brown, Cloud, Jackson, Jefferson, Marshall, Nemaha, Neosho, Osage, Pottawatomie, Rice, and Wilson. They were selected because of similarity in population, valuation, and overall county budget. Seven of the counties are larger than Marion County, and seven are smaller.
Marion County had the lowest per capita income of the 15 counties, $18,953. The 15-county average was $22,049.
Marion County had the second-highest per-capita total county expenditures, $722.75. The 15-county average was $545.94. In Marion County, road and bridge accounted for $402.09 per capita expenditures.
However, Marion County's per-capita expenditures in 1995 ranked 11th of the 15 counties, at $442.12. The main reason for the difference seems to be the road project, Griesel said. The county remained lower than the 15-county average until 1999.
Per-capita assessed valuation in Marion County was $5,747, an increase of 10.6 percent compared to 1995. The 15-county average was $5,954.
Marion County spent less per capita on public safety than the other 14 counties, $53.06 compared to $85.63.
Despite this, the county saw per-capita spending on public safety increase 79.8 percent, from $29.52 in 1995 to $53.06 in 2000.
Per capita property tax revenues for Marion County were $294.27, compared to a 15-county average of $249.52. Marion County had the fifth highest total mill levy and the sixth largest assessed valuation per capita.
Commissioners asked Griesel to see if she could prepare a report for comparison that doesn't include the large bond issue for roads.
