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T-Bones Fans
David Rocha and David Rocha Jr, of Kansas City, Kansas, take a break from watching the T-Bones opening night game on Thursday, May 17. The T-Bones beat the Schaumburg Flyers 6-4. The Rochas were among the 5,614 fans in attendance at the game. (Photo by Tom Flanigan.)

UG holds budget hearing for citizen concerns
By Kelli Bamforth
    Funds to improve public transit and combat what community members called a “gang problem” in Kansas City, Kansas, were the common requests heard at last week’s pre-budget public hearing of the Unified Government.
    The hearing was the first step in a long process that will culminate later this summer with the adoption of the 2008 budget in August, following budget work sessions and a public hearing in which citizens will get another chance to air concerns and suggestions related both the city budget and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) budget.
    Before citizens were called to testify, Chief Financial Officer Jack Manahan provided an overview of UG budget goals and summaries regarding the 2006 budget. Budget goals included a continued reduction of the property tax rate, which Manahan said has decreased 23 percent since 1997, and ways to diversify revenues to further reduce reliance on the property tax.
    For the 2007 budget, property tax revenues provided for 30 percent of the overall UG budget. Increasing the sales tax was one option mentioned by Manahan at the public hearing.
Manahan said the UG has taken steps to reduce the city’s debt.
    “We’re on target as far as repayment of the Village West STAR bonds,” he said. “The money is not available yet in the budget because the bonds are structured as a ‘waterfall’ and will be paid off as sales tax comes in.”
    Manahan said the first $23 million owed in the bond series will be completely paid off by June 1, when the UG will also make an initial $4 million payment for series two, not scheduled to be paid at all until 2010.
    Reardon informed those in attendance that this initial budget hearing was not required by Kansas law; rather, the UG decided to hold the pre-hearing for the second year in a row to provide for more citizen input into the budget process.
    “Just one meeting right before the budget is approved is too late in the process to understand public concerns and do anything about it,” he said. “The more input we have at the beginning of the process, the better the budget will be for everyone.”
    Greg Lever, executive director of the Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance, said he was disappointed transit wasn’t considered a priority.
    “Public transit and workforce development cannot be separated,” he said. “They should go hand in hand. In ‘08 Wyandotte County will be looking at a $2 million loss of federal funding for public transportation; you need to take transit seriously now.”
    Lever also pointed out that the budget survey distributed at the meeting and also available at the UG website (www.wycokck.org) didn’t list transit as one of the services to be added or improved for citizens.
    “I’m a little disappointed it’s not as important as it has been in public discussion,” he said. “We need to look at transit as a means of public infrastructure.”
    Clark Byron, executive director of the Coalition for Independence, echoed the concerns expressed by Lever and said access to public transportation is especially important for low-income and disabled persons looking for jobs.
    “Transit is a community development issue,” he said. “It’s a redevelopment issue, an economic issue and a social justice issue. We need to provide WyCountians the opportunity for job access, especially those who are seeking a job not necessarily 9-5.”
    The discussion turned to gang activity when Elizabeth Foster, Kansas City resident, requested the UG put aside money in the budget for a police task force knowledgeable in gangs and their activities.
    “We don’t want any more of our young people killed by gangs,” she said. “We want them to grow up happy, healthy and safe.”
Other residents expressed similar sentiments about area crime and advocated for more patrol officers on the streets.
    “We have a real problem in Wyandotte County with gangs just wreaking havoc on our community,” said another resident. “Some areas are getting hit more than others, but it could be us next time. Remember, crime moves.”
    Other testimony at the public hearing included advocacy for greater development in the east side of the county, more public recreation for children and the necessity of funds for implemenation of the master plan.
    The next step in the budget calendar includes a review of estimated expenses and anticipated revenues throughout the months of May and June. Budget work sessions open to the public begin the week of July 9.