By Trish Giordano
Geary County Commission Chair
The Geary County Commission is set to begin budget presentations from both county department heads and outside agencies seeking appropriations. This will undoubtedly be a challenging task.
During my 2020 campaign, I strongly advocated for the hiring of a finance director, as I believed our county needed someone dedicated to managing our multimillion-dollar budget. I was perplexed by the resistance to this idea. However, in early 2022, we hired a finance director who has been instrumental in assisting the county commission and department heads with creating detailed budgets and educating us on the efficient use of funds.
Since hiring the finance director, we have successfully reduced the mill levy by 14 mills, saving over 4 million dollars. The data reveals that county taxes are lower now than they were in 2018. I attribute this success to the professional management of our finances and close collaboration with department heads.
Additionally, we secured a $30 million bond to ensure our community has a strong hospital. We also implemented a pay wage scale and addressed compression issues for the first time in county history. Our Sheriff’s office transitioned to the Kansas Police and Fire Retirement System, and we established a capital improvement fund with a solid plan and reserve fund.
In 2020, I highlighted that 45.41% of property tax paid by Geary County taxpayers went to the county, compared to the state average of 29%. According to the Kansas Department of Revenue, currently, 40.13% of your total property tax payment goes to the county—a decrease of over 5%. You can see that there were substantial increases in the county budget in the years 2015, 2016, and 2017, then the mill levy stays consistent until the substantial decrease in 2023. While this current decrease is positive progress, there are still more efficiencies to be found. The public needs to understand that even if the mill levy stays the same but the valuation increases, that will mean an increase in your taxes. The elected officials setting the mill levy determine your taxes, not the valuation.
The most frequent complaint I hear as a commissioner is that taxes are too high. I completely agree. Elected officials must proactively seek ways to be more efficient with tax dollars. I will continue to seek efficiency and scrutinize spending. I urge the public to stay informed and communicate with their elected officials about the importance of responsible spending.
In conclusion, keeping our taxes under control is essential for our community's prosperity. It provides financial stability to our residents, stimulates local economic growth, and makes Geary County a more attractive place to live and do business. I am committed to continuing our efforts to manage our budget wisely and keep taxes as low as possible while still providing the necessary services and infrastructure our community needs.