Douglas County commissioners say they understand the state can't or won't be able to fully fund all programs it requires the county to run.
But given that money is tight, they want the Kansas Legislature to know that when a program can't be funded, local officials should be able to decide how to use the money they have.
"The state has been in the habit of taking back money, which is OK," Commission Chairman Charles Jones said. "We understand that it has to happen. But they ought to give us the latitude to reorganize and realize economies of scales and efficiencies. In other words: Take the money, but don't leave the red tape for us to comply with."
Commissioners discussed program funding during their Monday morning meeting while reviewing issues for the 2005 legislative session.
The commissioners also flirted with the idea of increasing the county's presence in the Statehouse by hiring a lobbyist.
"I've always been sort of pleased with the idea that we approached this as 'Don't harm us and do what is best for the state,'" Commissioner Bob Johnson said. "It's worked well in the past, but not so well in the last several years."
But Johnson, Jones and fellow commissioner Jere McElhaney weren't ready to propose hiring a lobbyist.
Douglas County wouldn't be alone in taking such action. Johnson, Sedgwick and Wyandotte counties have paid lobbyists.
For now, commissioners outlined some key legislative issues:
- Supporting the county's right to home rule authority, which would allow county government to exempt itself from certain statutes or create resolutions that apply only to its jurisdiction without the Legislature repealing it.
- Ensuring access to mental health services.
- Sustaining the Local Environmental Protection Program, which was established for public health and county water quality programs.
- Streamlining sales tax collections and allowing counties to collect taxes on Internet sales.
6News video: Douglas County may hire lobbyist
Douglas County Commissioner Charles Jones
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