To the editor:
Following the recent coverage of the County Commission budget sessions, I think it is necessary to clarify the positions I took at these meetings. I supported various cuts that we needed to make to some county departments and reserve funds because I believed that we needed to do everything we could to minimize the mill levy increase. I objected, however, when the majority decided to fund and expand programs that are not essential operations of county government. Adding or expanding nonessential programs after cutting the budgets of county departments and reserve funds just did not make sense to me if our goal was to reduce the mill levy.
At the meeting I also indicated in detail how I could support additional economic development projects, heritage development and open space preservation if these programs were being funded by a sales tax approved by the voters. Legislative authority exists to put such questions on the ballot. I believe that an election is the proper way to determine if the majority of the voters want their tax dollars spent on such attractive, but nonessential, programs. Local sales tax increases are subject to public approval, but property taxes are merely imposed at the will of the taxing body.
In my opinion, the current budget fails to adequately minimize the adverse tax impact on Douglas County residents. As I stated in the public meeting, I am particularly concerned with the impact on low-income families, fixed-income senior citizens and struggling small businesses. The only way I can voice my concern is to oppose approval of the current budget at the public hearing on Aug. 18.
Jim Flory, Douglas County
commissioner, District 3
Comments
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OonlyBonly (anonymous) says…
A politician with sense. Thank you for the letter.
sundowner (anonymous) says…
Finally, someone who was voted in by the people FOR the people! Thank you.
cheeseburger (anonymous) says…
Thanks for your efforts, Jim. I wish you had some help on the commission; unfortunately, you cannot count on those other two tax-and-spend liberals.
Folks, let's remember who is for us and who is against us when next we vote!
cato_the_elder (anonymous) says…
No need to apologize or explain yourself, Jim. There's absolutely nothing wrong with voting against approving the budget if it goes against your principles, and you should do so.
Practicality (anonymous) says…
Thanks for some clarification and insight on what occured Mr. Flory. I appreciate the letter.
Ricky_Vaughn (anonymous) says…
Yeah, but if the other two vote for it, it passes....
SettingTheRecordStraight (anonymous) says…
The concept of continually putting tax increases to the voters to fund new government programs is quickly falling out of style. The electorate is tired of deficits, tax increases, bailouts, budget overruns, budget shortfalls and government expansion.
Allowing the will of a slim majority to take the income of the minority to fund increasingly unpopular government programs is, hopefully, soon to be a relic of the way things used to be. Let's replace the tax-hiking ballot measures with austerity and fiscal discipline.
hail2oldku (anonymous) replies…
Agreed, but what Nancy and Mike want to do is bypass the voting public all together and go straight to your pocketbook. At least if the additional sales tax, which is what I understand Topeka/Shawnee County uses for eco-devo funding, were placed in front of the voters you and I would have a say in the matter. Right now that really isn't the case since this is Nancy's pet project and she isn't up for re-election for two more years. You'd think Mike might be a little more responsive since his term is about up. Maybe he doesn't plan to run again though. If he does, I'll be voting for anyone-but-Mike since I live in his district and he hasn't bothered to even acknowledge receipt of my messages to him.
jafs (anonymous) says…
So you don't like democracy?
cheeseburger (anonymous) replies…
I love democracy - I just don't see much of it exhibited by Thellman and Gaughan. They had many, many comments in opposition to the tax increase, but they voted for it anyway, because that is what THEY wanted.
jafs (anonymous) replies…
I was responding to STRS' dislike of a vote on tax increases.
SettingTheRecordStraight (anonymous) replies…
That's not even a serious question, but I'll indulge.
I want representative democracy, not direct democracy. When there's both, we're under a threat of tax increases from two fronts - the legislature and the ballot initiative.
jafs (anonymous) replies…
Well, representative democracy means that a majority gains their representative, who then (in theory) represents that majority at the expense of the minority.
And, if you believe in the idea, then putting things to a popular vote is in line with that, since the majority will win.
If our represented officials aren't representing your interests, vote for someone who does - someone who stands for "austerity and fiscal discipline".
SettingTheRecordStraight (anonymous) replies…
I can't argue with that point. I simply don't like the ballot initiative because elected officials use it as a second means of levying taxes.
jafs (anonymous) replies…
Only if a majority of voters vote for them.
monkeyhawk (anonymous) says…
I hoped that the LTE writer was one of the other two. Mr. Flory is not the one who needs to explain since most voters share his views.
Practicality (anonymous) says…
Start with Gaughn. He was never elected (he was appointed), and went against the desire of his district. He is up for election in a few months. Get rid of him.
jafs (anonymous) says…
I wrote to each commissioner, and received pleasant and thoughtful responses from all except Mr. Gaughan.
hail2oldku (anonymous) says…
Pack the meeting on August 18th. I expect Jim to once again move to lower the allotments for greenspace and economic development. Maybe if there are enough of us there to comment before the budget is finalized then one of the other two will second his motion. If we don't show that we care, Mr. Flory's motion will simply "rot on the vine". Our attendance doesn't necessarily mean it WILL help, but our abscence will certainly hurt.
xbusguy (chris Ogle) says…
Thank you Mr. Flory..... and hang in there. We taxpayers need more like you.
oneeye_wilbur (anonymous) says…
And does Flory support spending any money for economic development, if so, who will get paying jobs? And why doesn't Mr. Flory figure out that the county taxpayers already gave away 3/4 of a million and still have not gotten it back.
The mill levy for the county needs to be reduced. The county commission needs to take the lead if the school district and city will not. Then those two need to follow. If Lawrence starts to have a lower mill levy around than nearby cities, business will come here, if not,
everyone working for the school district, county and city, need to "work hard or be planning to look hard for a new job". Layoffs are on the horizon, with the financially irresponsible spending of tax payers money.
Don't pay the taxes and let them figure out how to get money then!
gr3sam (anonymous) says…
These programs should only be funded by a sales tax approved by the voters. "Legislative authority exists to put such questions on the ballot. I believe that an election is the proper way to determine if the majority of the voters want their tax dollars spent on such attractive, but nonessential, programs. Local sales tax increases are subject to public approval, but property taxes are merely imposed at the will of the taxing body."
This makes perfect sense. Why is Flory the only Douglas County politician with any sense?
Jim: Interested in running for school board?
grimpeur (anonymous) says…
Flory: "I objected, however, when the majority decided to fund and expand programs that are not essential operations of county government."
Examples, please.
STRS: "..to fund increasingly unpopular government programs."
Examples, please.
Kash_Encarri (anonymous) replies…
Additional economic development projects, heritage development and open space preservation projects. ie Nancy's belief that she was elected entirely on the issue of saving the farmland out by the airport.
jafs (anonymous) replies…
That's a good question for STRS.
If programs are unpopular, and taxes for them are put to a popular vote, then they should be defeated.
puddleglum (anonymous) says…
fancy new firetrucks?
bearded_gnome (anonymous) says…
Jim Flory for president!
besides, he'd bring a much better first lady.
Clevercowgirl (anonymous) says…
I would be all for an increase in the mill levy if it were to go for more county jobs, and increased maintenance of the county infastructure (starting with my road). As most of us are trying to eek out savings in our own budgets, now is not the time to make up a laundry list of perceived under-funding. It seems that the branches of local government are enboldening each other to raise taxes. I guess that we need to send these government people back to econ 101. Thank you Mr. Flory for being sensible. Most of us are working very hard to stay solvent, and it should be the duty of our county officials to make decisions that reflect our current economic times.
rhd99 (anonymous) says…
This oddly enough reminds me of exactly what NEEDS to happen in a true democracy. We need leaders that will LISTEN to US. The commissioner knows exactly what is not needed at a time like this: More spending and more tax increases. Have we not been taxed enough in this country? I know may sound a bit "out there", but is there anyone here who is not fed up with politicians like that Anthony Wiener (the whiner) from New York? The party in power is NOT listening to us, & guys like him make Mr. Flory look bad. I am saying this because Mr. Flory believes in our democracy. Meanwhile, Mr. Wiener's diatribe from last night demonstrates that if you don't agree with him, then you need to sit down and shut up. Is this what our democracy should look like? If so, then we need a miracle come November! Mr. Flory, thank you for all you try to do for our county.
jafs (anonymous) replies…
Well,
1. Mr. Weiner was advocating for a bill that provides health care to firemen, police, etc. who were injured in the 9/11 cleanup - are you against that?
2. His opponent, whoever he was, was violating the rules of order - do you support that?
rhd99 (anonymous) replies…
You don't get it, do you, jafs? Weiner's advocacy for the firefighters, police, etc I'm not against. His opponent wanted to explain, Weiner told him to sit down & shut up. That's NOT democracy. Telling a fellow politician to sit down & shut up - do you support that?
jafs (anonymous) replies…
If the other politician was breaking the rules of order by standing up and interrupting, I don't have a problem with it. Weiner had the time and was unwilling to yield it - perfectly within the rules.
What makes you think the other guy had the right to do that?
rhd99 (anonymous) replies…
So, Weiner was right, while the rest of us have NO rights to speak out against a procedure, never the mind fact that I support our firefighters wholeheartedly. So, he's right all the time? Yeah, I'll believe that when I see pigs fly. If Weiner does not like what the other side had to say, too bad. Others in the House, unlike Whiner graciously yield so the other side can explain. What's he afraid of? Differences of opinion?! Wow, if that's the case, he should look for a new job!! Let me be very clear, i will not be told by others, especially in our government to sit down and shut up when I don't agree with a policy that THEY created. I am not this guy's puppet now nor will I ever be, do you understand me? If you don't, well that's your loss come November.
oneeye_wilbur (anonymous) says…
flory needs to read that the state is short of money, sales tax decrease.Flory needs to not try harder but explain to all county employees to work hard or soon they will be looking hard for work. As long as Flory has been around, he should be able to muster several hundred people to speak against any mill levy increase. The county doesn't need more money. They need to take the lead in cutting spending and start spending wisely.
kansasmutt (anonymous) says…
He is only 1 of 3 and with the other two working with the Chamber of Commerce, you wont get far protesting , unless you stay out of downtown and any Chamber business. Jim we do thank you for trying to help us as you have always done. I do hope a big turnout gets to the meeting, but i dont know if it will help. I exchanged emails with the others and didnt care for the answers i got. I was told a way to save a minimum of $100,000 but it would save more like $500,000 to maybe $750,000 in just one years budget. The answer didnt even include doing the change to save us the $100,000 at least, so that shows me the other two dont care what they tax us for. At this point a $100.000 savings is a BIG chunk of money to be saving. But i guess when its not thier money, the other two dont care.
none2 (anonymous) says…
Mr Flory,
Thanks for being a voice (and vote) for reason. It is absolutely unethical that others would choose to fund nonessential budgetary items in downtimes. Politicians should think of budgets in households when thinking of the public's budget. If other politicians did that instead of clinging to their pet projects to make a name for themselves, the county would be MUCH better off.
If there is any consolation for loosing out to the others, it is that you can hold your head high and know that you were the sole commissioner who listened to what the people wrote, emailed, faxed, and talked to you in person about.
sherbert (anonymous) says…
Thank you Jim.