By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
With incumbent Barton County Commissioner Jennifer Schartz not seeking reelection, voters in District 5 must now choose between candidates Rick Davis and Donna Zimmerman, both of Great Bend. The District 5 candidates were part of Thursday's League of Women Voters of Great Bend forum at the Great Bend Senior Center. Each candidate on the panel answered four questions.
The final question of the forum pertained to the commission's ability to impact the cost of living in the county. Many candidates agreed inflation is not a county issue, but Davis said the commission does have the power to keep costs down and keep county dollars local.
"I think keeping our county dollars, particularly our tax dollars in our county, is one way to help," he said. "It does become an investment when you do that. Keeping costs low is key in government. While rare, lowering costs and taxes can and does happen. We're in unprecedented times with inflation, at least in my lifetime. I've never seen anything like this. Again, I think some sharing of contracts. I think the county needs to look at, when they're purchasing equipment that maybe it's a possibility to lease equipment and maybe look into sharing some equipment sometimes . That's what we do at my business. We always look for ways to cut money so everybody can get a paycheck at the end of the year."
Zimmerman joked that if she could solve inflation, perhaps a higher office would be in order. The noted inflation is at a 40-year high, and that is something commissioners will have to battle into next year.
"I feel the only real control the commission has is the mill levy," she said. "County budgets have remained constant over the past 7-10 years, with the exception of wage increases for county employees. The sheriff budgeted for a 52-percent increase for the price of fuel, with an 8-percent increase across the board for all other expenses, including food for the detention center. So it's a huge issue for the commissioners this year. There are similar increases for fuel for the road and bridge department."
Early voting in the county began July 18 and runs through Aug. 1 at noon. This year's primary election is Aug. 2.
Click HERE to watch the full candidate forum.