Commissioners review funding requests

June 23--During a budget work session Thursday, Leavenworth County commissioners heard from representatives of not-for-profit agencies that are seeking additional financial assistance from the county.

Commissioners met with the agency representatives as part of the preparation of the county's 2018 budget.

The county government traditionally provides funding to various outside agencies.

County Administrator Mark Loughry said a preliminary budget presented to commissioners last week included funding for outside agencies at current levels.

The budget, as it was presented last week, would decrease the county's overall mill levy by 0.5 mills for 2018. Mills are used in determining property taxes.

Not-for-profit agencies have requested a total of $142,798 in additional funding for 2018. Loughry said this amount of funding equates to 0.265 mills worth of tax dollars.

"These increases are not in the budget that was proposed (last week)," Loughry said.

Commissioners did not reject any of the requested funding increases Thursday. But commissioners also indicated they are not making any promises.

"We will do what we can," Commission Chairman Doug Smith said.

The county's property tax rate was increased by 0.5 mills for 2017.

When they approved the 0.5-mill increase last year, commissioners indicated they planned to have the increase in place for only one year.

"That is something you said to the public," County Clerk Janet Klasinski told commissioners Thursday.

But she said they are not required to reduce the mill levy.

The additional funding being requested by not-for-profit organizations includes a $50,000 request from the Leavenworth County Historical Society.

The County Commission does not have any funding allocated to the Historical Society in the current year's budget. But LCHS President Mary Ann Brown said the county used to provide funding to the organization on an annual basis.

She said LCHS lost its funding from the county in 2009. At that time, the county had been providing $45,000 to the Historical Society each year.

She said the Historical Society is wanting to hire a full-time museum director.

But she said it would be hard to hire somebody without assurance that funding for the position would be available for more than one year.

Loughry said the county would not be able to guarantee funding for year after year.

"You can't make a multi-year commitment," he said.

While most not-for-profit agencies are seeking some level of funding increase, there are a few that requested their funding from the county remain flat in 2018.

Commissioner Clyde Graeber expressed frustration that the city of Leavenworth is not providing more support to the organizations. He said the organizations requesting funding are based in the city.

Loughry also told commissioners Thursday that the county's current health insurance provider, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, is requesting a 23 percent increase for next year. Loughry previously had received indication that the cost increase for health insurance would be between 7 and 9 percent.

The county's insurance broker is obtaining other proposals. Loughry said he has asked the broker to look at Midwest Public Risk, a pool insurance program.

Another budget meeting has not yet been scheduled, according to Loughry.

Klasinski said some new budget figures will be put together for the commissioners.

Twitter: @LVTNewsJohnR

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