By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Boards and elected officials always breathe a sigh of relief when their budget for the upcoming year is completed. The revenue-neutral laws that went in effect across the state in 2021 have increased some transparency in that process. While all taxes go through Barton County, the county itself is responsible for only about 20 percent of all property taxes collected. Barton County as the taxing entity will remain revenue neutral for a fifth-straight year. County Administrator Matt Patzner said that is no small feat.
"Each year that goes by, with inflation and wanting to keep quality personnel and keep our services up to par with what our taxpayers expect, it just becomes more and more of a challenge to find out how to do all that and still remain revenue neutral," he said Thursday on 1590 KVGB/95.5 FM's "County Edition program.
The budget process is a long one, beginning with year-end transfers that serve as a starting point for the next year's budget. County officials then meet with department heads and outside agencies that have their own budgets and requests for funding. Earlier this month, the county clerks offices around the state mailed out revenue-neutral notices to inform taxpayers which entities planned to exceed last year's money collected.
"The main thing people need to pay attention to on that notice is it will show if an entity has given its intent to exceed revenue neutral and a date they plan to hold that hearing," Patzner said. "If you're concerned about your taxes going up, make sure you pay attention to those and make your voice be heard."
The notices themselves are not cheap. For the upcoming budget season, Barton County mailed out more than 19,000 notices at a cost of $17,212. And that's for a relatively small county. The state reimburses counties for the expense using revenue from other taxes.