Tough economic times have hit Johnson County, leading to lower housing values and stagnant tax revenues. But government services for residents aren’t facing major reductions, as they are in cash-strapped Kansas City.
Part of the reason, of course, is the county’s general affluence. It’s the largest county in Kansas (population 530,000 and still growing) with the state’s highest assessed property valuation of $8 billion.
But there’s another reason Johnson Countians aren’t reading about layoffs and troubling reductions in programs: strong management by the staff and County Commission.
The county froze employee salaries in late 2008 to save money early in the economic meltdown. By comparison, Kansas City’s elected officials won’t implement a wage freeze until May 1.
Johnson County is dipping into its healthy reserves to continue several million dollars worth of programs. Kansas City, however, has skimpy reserves that it can’t touch for fear that its overall debt rating could suffer — leading to higher borrowing costs for a heavy load of public debt.
County department directors have been challenged to find ways to cut costs, through what County Manager Mike Press labeled a “belt-tightening committee.” Over in Kansas City, Mayor Mark Funkhouser and Police Chief Jim Corwin used scare tactics while fighting efforts to make reasonable cuts at the Police Department.
County Chair Mstrong>Annabeth Surbaugh — in her annual address last week —reminded a large crowd of civic leaders that putting money in a rainy day fund had paid off at a critical time for residents.
Significant challenges are still ahead in the next county budget, being developed this spring. The county’s share of federal stimulus funds isn’t expected to be large, as money flows to communities with bigger problems. Press and Surbaugh say they don’t currently support boosting the mill levy rate, even though it’s the state’s lowest.
Still, because of responsible planning, Johnson Countians likely will continue to receive most of the valuable services they have come to expect.
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I Agree Artwill
My problem with not using the term lib is that I look at KC government, and that is all that is there, so I take the easy route and say lib....
But, you are correct, both sides have inept politicians.. big Wayne, however, has to be near the top of ineptness!!
We need GLOBAL term limits to stop making it possible for a person to have a "career" of being a politician...
Up with JOCO, Down Goes KCMO. What about Cauthen?
kcgrh: You are correct Wayne Cauthen and his team and Barnes and her buddies are significantly responsible for the poor management and decline of KCMO. They largely explain many differences between JOCO and KCMO. I wish Yael and others at the Star would get on the stick, call for the removal of Cauthen and friends, advocate the end the KCMO contract with the EDC, and call for the hiring of professionally educated and experienced staff in KCMO. JOCO, however, is no better off when KCMO does worse, and even may be worse off, too. By the way, you do not need to take a jab at "liberals." Poor management and whacky ideas are equal opportunity diseases infecting both. A pox on all their houses. I believe you will agree.
The news media have bleakly
The news media have bleakly conveyed from governmental sources, that there are now 8.5 % or 13 million jobless Americans. Today! Now more than ever we should command our Senators and Representatives to preserve E-Verify. Not for just 5 years, nor 7 years, but on a permanent basis. Even as unemployed Americans are looking for work, the corporate power brokers are importing so-called professionals. Annually these miscreant's approach the Dept of labor for H-1B visas--many fraudulently processed--many not as skilled as US personnel. Just another method to settle more than 1.5 million foreign job seekers, that many end up on public welfare. E-Verify should be made fully operational for every company in the United States. No half-measures but every employee in the Human Resources roster should be checked and identified as eligible to--WORK IN THE UNITED STATES. Not just new hires but anybody who is employed? Senator Leadership even want us, to erase "BUY AMERICAN." clause.
For far too long Politicians have distracted Americans, from the major impact of--- ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION? Sen. Harry Reid, Speaker Nancy Pelosi tabled E-Verify in a secret Senate chamber debate, cutting off funding. Implications are obvious to us, that politicians want to maintain the free movement of cheap labor into this country. Any paramount laws relating to stopping immigration by both parties, has been grounded. This establishes that their--OATH OF OFFICE--is not worth the paper it's written on? We must all keep perpetually phoning Washington at: 202-224-3121; The President: 202-456-1414: Doug Volkman The truth about the plague of illegal immigration, can be found at NUMBERSUSA. JUDICIAL WATCH, CAPSWEB, AMERICAN PATROL.
EVENTUALLY WE CAN REMOVE THEM!
County Chair
County Chair Mstrong>Annabeth Surbaugh — in her annual address last week —reminded a large crowd of civic leaders that putting money in a rainy day fund had paid off at a critical time for residents.
Significant challenges are still ahead in the next county budget, being developed this spring. The county’s share of federal stimulus funds isn’t expected to be large, as money flows to communities with bigger problems. Press and Surbaugh say they don’t currently support boosting the mill levy rate, even though it’s the state’s lowest doug volkman.
Still, because of responsible planning, Johnson Countians likely will continue to receive most of the valuable services they have come to expect.
in your face
Despite the rhetoric, “in your face” cannot happen here. A good thing. The virtual soapboxes in this “Blog Park”, those with megaphones creating the large print headlined subject lines, all the mixed metaphors like this one previous, the roar of the greasepaint, the smell of the crowd. More like, “in your words”.
Tom Ryan
The Crossroads
Kansas City
http://crossroadscurrents.blogspot.com/
Could it Also Be.....
JoCo doesn't have an affirmitive action based city manager displaying perfectly the Peter Principle and a City Council that rubberstamped TIF Barnes' ideas to give away the tax base???
No, that's just not possible that the KC libs could screw-up that badly, isn't it????
this has what to do with the article, Brittanicus?
Jeez. Beat your anti-immigrant horse somewhere else where it makes sense, son.
Not all--What it seems...?
The news media have bleakly conveyed from governmental sources, that there are now 8.5 % or 13 million jobless Americans. Today! Now more than ever we should command our Senators and Representatives to preserve E-Verify. Not for just 5 years, nor 7 years, but on a permanent basis. Even as unemployed Americans are looking for work, the corporate power brokers are importing so-called professionals. Annually these miscreant's approach the Dept of labor for H-1B visas--many fraudulently processed--many not as skilled as US personnel. Just another method to settle more than 1.5 million foreign job seekers, that many end up on public welfare. E-Verify should be made fully operational for every company in the United States. No half-measures but every employee in the Human Resources roster should be checked and identified as eligible to--WORK IN THE UNITED STATES. Not just new hires but anybody who is employed? Senator Leadership even want us, to erase "BUY AMERICAN." clause.
For far too long Politicians have distracted Americans, from the major impact of--- ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION? Sen. Harry Reid, Speaker Nancy Pelosi tabled E-Verify in a secret Senate chamber debate, cutting off funding. Implications are obvious to us, that politicians want to maintain the free movement of cheap labor into this country. Any paramount laws relating to stopping immigration by both parties, has been grounded. This establishes that their--OATH OF OFFICE--is not worth the paper it's written on? We must all keep perpetually phoning Washington at: 202-224-3121; The President: 202-456-1414: The truth about the plague of illegal immigration, can be found at NUMBERSUSA. JUDICIAL WATCH, CAPSWEB, AMERICAN PATROL.
EVENTUALLY WE CAN REMOVE THEM!