City, county join litigation challenging payment cuts
Staff writer
During their respective meetings Monday, Marion County Commissioners and city commissioners voted unanimously to join litigation challenging Gov. Bill Graves' authority to cut $48,000,000 in demand transfer payments to cities and counties.
County commissioners approved a resolution supporting the Kansas Association of Counties in a lawsuit challenging the governor's authority, while city commissioners approved a similar resolution supporting the Kansas League of Municipalities.
Neither the county or city have any financial obligation in joining the lawsuits.
County commissioner Leroy Wetta said the state has numerous sources to apply taxes, while counties only have one — the property tax. "And it's maxed out," he said.
County Clerk Carol Maggard said the county will lose approximately $315,000 in state revenue — payments that were to be made this month and June or July of 2003.
"Road and bridge will be hit the hardest as far as what they can allocate for next year," Maggard said. "It's hard to tell because they're hitting us out of two budget years."
County Commission Chairman Bob Hein said before all is said and done every entity will be hurting.
"They're welshing out on us," Wetta agreed. "These are things we can't correct because we've already budgeted for the year."
During the Marion City Commission meeting, commissioners approved a resolution allowing the city to be a named party in litigation filed by the Kansas League of Municipalities.
City Attorney Dan Baldwin said he had looked for a reason why the city should not join the lawsuit, but could find none.
"It's a gesture of support more than anything," Baldwin said. "Regardless of whether other cities are named on the suit, the league will be filing."
City Administrator David Mayfield said it appears the city could lose up to $100,000 in state funding with the budget cuts, although the final tally was unknown.
"There's no definite way to figure what we may or may not lose," Mayfield told commissioners. "It may be the $100,000 or it may be half of that, $50,000."
No matter what the cut, Mayfield said the city would not be affected.
"We have definite ways to reduce the budget if we have to. We could absorb it although it may take a budget amendment to do it."
