By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
For weeks the Barton County Commission has talked about coming in at revenue neutral or better for the 2023 budget. Wednesday the governing body walked the walk. The commission approved a 2023 mill levy of 43.381, a reduction of nearly three mills from last year's budget. The new budget comes in $11,000 under the revenue-neutral rate set by last year's budget.
"This budget is an organizational blueprint to maintain delivery of quality public serves at an affordable cost to the taxpayer," said Barton County Director of Operations Matt Patzner. "The main goals that led the commission to this proposed budget were to remain revenue neutral, which means levying the same or less total tax dollars that were leveled for the 2022 budget, maintain quality public services in a way that's sustainable for years to come, invest in our employees who deliver these quality services, and contribute to expanding the tax base of Barton County and enrich the quality of life for our citizens."
Per state law, the commission held a revenue-neutral rate meeting prior to the budget hearing. The recently-passed Senate Bill 13 requires taxing entities to announce an intent to exceed last year's tax dollars. The revenue-neutral rate for the 2023 budget was 44.419.
Commissioner Jennifer Schartz expressed ongoing concern about how the new bill will affect counties with unanticipated expenses in the future.
"We would be in a really bad place because we're not able to plan for it," she said. "I think when we lose the power as a local board to govern and tax the way we see as appropriate, it takes it out of our hands and we aren't able to do what we think needs to be done. I just hope in the next session they remedy some of these things with the revenue neutral rate because it's really hamstringing us."
Commissioner Barb Esfeld said she worked with many people around the state to find a solution to previous taxing concerns. Part of that solution was Senate Bill 13, though the end result did not go as planned.
"I will tell you it was never intended to hurt anybody, not townships, not anybody," she said. "What it was intended to do was protect the taxpayers so your mill levy will stop going through the ceiling."
As part of the approved budget, county employees making less than $17 an hour will receive a $1 raise per hour. Employees making between $17 and $26.50 an hour will see a $0.75 raise per hour, and employees making over $26.50 will receive a $0.50 raise per hour. Patzner said all full-time Barton County employees will make at least $15 per hour starting in 2023.