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| County asked to keep funding social services |
| By cjonline.com |
| Published: 08/04/2011 |
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Four of the five speakers at a budget public hearing held Wednesday asked Shawnee County commissioners to continue providing funding to local social service agencies that help those in need. "I believe that the true progress of our community is how we take care of the bottom of the economic chain," said Nancy Johnson, executive director of the Community Resources Council. Johnson spoke at a hearing Commissioners Vic Miller, Shelly Buhler and Ted Ensley hold annually as they work to craft a county budget for the following year. Miller said the commissioners, who were required by law to hold the hearing, also are open to hearing comments about the 2012 county budget through letters, emails, phone calls or in person at future commission meetings. A standing-room-only crowd filled almost all the 30 seats available to the public in the commission chambers for the hearing, which began at 5:30 p.m. and lasted about 20 minutes. The commission is required by Aug. 25 to approve the county's 2012 budget and certify it to the county clerk. The county this year assesses a property tax levy of 41.016 mills, which amounts to $471.58 in taxes annually for the owner of a $100,000 house. The county last week published the requested 2012 budget in the official county newspaper, the Topeka Metro News. That document contains a combination of requests from county department heads, elected officials and organizations seeking county funding that if approved in their entirety would raise the mill levy to 45.213 mills. However, the commission routinely makes significant cuts from budget requests before approving a final document. Miller said commissioners likely would first consider potential changes to the requested budget Aug. 15, though they plan Thursday to discuss potential funding for some social service agencies and two entities seeking money raised through the county's transient guest tax. Wednesday's five speakers was the largest number to take the microphone at a county budget hearing in recent years. Topeka Capital-Journal archives show the annual hearing drew three speakers each in 2009 and 2010. Read More. |
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