Options being considered to control county's mill levy

Tammy Helm/Tribune photo Bourbon County Commission Chair Barbara Albright asks County Appraiser Clinton Anderson what the projection is for state assessed utilities. During Tuesday's meeting, commissioners revealed several options being considered for the 2017 budget. Pictured at the table are, from left, Diehl, Banwart and Bolton CPA Terry Sercer, Anderson and Third District Commission Harold Coleman. A handful of county employees and elected officials also attended the meeting.

Although work on the Fiscal Year 2017 budget for Bourbon County is far from complete, preliminary information shows the budget is teetering on a 3.067 mill levy increase.

That means nearly every line item is under scrutiny as commissioners continue to hold budget work sessions.

On Tuesday, commissioners met with CPA Terry Sercer of Diehl, Banwart and Bolton, and County Counselor Justin Meeks. Various department heads also joined the meeting to listen or offer their input.

A budget work session is also scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Friday.

Commission Chair Barbara Albright said at this point, they are researching several options:

* A reduction in workforce;

* Overall budget cuts in commodities;

* Contributions to outside agencies;

* County contribution for employee health insurance;

* Health insurance in the long term;

* Elimination of raises for employees;

* Fees charged for services provided by the county;

* The mill levy structure.

County Treasurer Rhonda Dunn reminded commissioners of new state legislation, which will go into effect in 2017. This is the final year government entities can increase their mill levies beyond the amount of the cost of living adjustment without placing the increase before voters.

Dunn said some counties are increasing their mill levies this year to compensate for the future when the state legislation goes into effect. Dunn said one county is adding one mill to set aside in a reserve for use after the state legislation regulating mill levy increases goes into effect.

Register of Deeds Lora Holdridge spoke while there was a break in the discussion and Meeks, Albright and Sercer had briefly left the room.

"We provide services to Bourbon County and Fort Scott -- all residents," Holdridge said. "We have to pay extra for services. I'm a taxpayer. I don't want my taxes going up, but maybe we can contract out some of the roads or sell some of the equipment or figure out something for the employees. I know it's been mentioned and thrown around about cutting people. That's going to cut services to the people of Bourbon County if you start cutting people."

"I think we're looking at considerations of what's best all the way around," First District Commissioner Lynne Oharah said. "But we'll try to save the taxpayers money and provide the services at the same time."

Later, Sheriff Bill Martin, who attended the meeting along with Undersheriff Ben Cole, Southeast Kansas Regional Correctional Center Major Bobby Reed and Captain Alvin Metcalf Jr., said he will once again pledge to "watch spending," as he had pledged in 2015. He said there is always the possibility for the unexpected to occur. Monday night, the K-9 handler driving one of the older Crown Victoria patrol cars hit a deer. Martin said if the vehicle is not totaled, the cost of repairs will come out of his budget.

Focus was given to fees charged for services provided by the county. Meeks and other department heads are researching possible increases.

"The reason I brought up services is, everybody is upping them on us," Albright said.