By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The legislators just have blinders on. That was the message Barton County Treasurer Jim Jordan shared with the board of commissioners Tuesday morning seeking its support on behalf of the Kansas County Treasurers Association (KCTA). County treasurers have long complained their offices run at a financial loss when doing work for the state's Department of Revenue. The KCTA is sponsoring a bill that could help offset those losses.
"This year, motor vehicle ended up approximately $50,000 in the hole," Jordan said. "Next year, I'm projecting about $64,000 in the hole. The Kansas Treasurers Association, we're going back to the legislators to try to get that fee increased. This year, we're going to try and do a $5 title fee increase and $5 registration fee increase."
Currently, the state allows counties to charge $2.50 as a user fee when patrons use the treasurer's office in person. More patrons are using mail service now, which costs the counties additional money. By raising the fee, Jordan said all residents who register a vehicle would be paying for the services, not just landowners in the county.
"If we don't get this to raise, you guys are going to have to raise my budget, or I'm going to have to come to you and get more money, so all the taxpayers are going to pay more money," he said.
State legislators have previously refused to raise the fee because not all counties charge the $2.50 currently allowed. The KCTA plans to present the bill to legislators in February.