The county's budget officials proposed a one mill property tax reduction.  This action confirms my position that property taxes should NOT have been raised 2.5 mills in 2006.  The fact that the county is now proposing a property tax reduction less than three weeks before the primary election and about three months before the November election where two of the incumbents who voted for this tax hike are now seeking reelection is a compelling benefit for Sedgwick County taxpayers.  This action shortly before the election is also a reason why many folks get cynical about government.  Let's look at the plus side of this action.

 

This tax cut shows one positive benefit from my candidacy for county taxpayers.

 

This action demonstrates that the two commissioners running for reelection finally realize that they must now face voters like the two commissioners who unsuccessfully ran for reelection in 2006 after raising county taxes.  Even with this tax cut, the mill levy remains 1.5 mills higher than it was in 2006.

 

The county's one mill tax cut is a good first step but it will not guarantee even about 8/10ths of 1 percent reduction in property taxes for most county taxpayers for several reasons.

 

First, soaring appraisals may mean that this mill levy reduction will simply reduce the property tax hike issued by the county appraiser's office in March.  Other tax jurisdictions may also raise their mill levy.  Last year the Wichita school district raised their mill levy by two mills (after many of them, like Kevass Harding campaigned against raising property taxes while running for reelection in 2007 to the school board).  Other tax jurisdictions could raise property taxes again.  I hope that the city, school district, or any other jurisdiction will look to follow Sedgwick County's example this year.

 

This one mill reduction does not mean that county spending will not grow.  Staff has proposed the first $401 million county budget!  That is almost three times more than what the county was spending in 1993 when the current third district incumbent took office in less than 16 years.

 

My agenda to improve county government extends well beyond the property tax mill levy.  Sedgwick County and the rest of local government in our state needs broader fiscal reforms.  Voters need to be empowered to decide all local tax hikes at the ballot box.  I hope that my candidacy will continue to be a beacon for the folks seeking real reform so we can create a positive economic climate that promotes real growth in our community.

 

Today, there are less than 20 days before primary election day.  Absentee ballots have been sent out.  Advance voting is beginning.  Your help and assistance is going to lead to real change in our community beginning August 5.  What happened yesterday is just the beginning of real fiscal and governmental reform in our community.