Budget cuts in next year's Unified Government are leaving some commissioners concerned on how they're being administered and who receives the brunt of the cuts.

The cuts span across most departments within the county government as part of a 20 percent "across the board" cut.

Among specific items receiving a cut:

• A study has been introduced to examine the possibility of eliminating routes. There are no plans to immediately reduce routes as of right now.
• There would be cuts in snow removal and street maintenance.
• Cuts in meal service provided by the Meals on Wheels program. The meals will be targeted for those only 60 years old or older.
• WIth no fair being held within Wyandotte County this year, the UG will not fund the fair, other than the costs of ribbons and awards, which are mandated by the state.
• A 20 percent cut for the Wyandot Mental Health department.
• The Wyandotte County Extension services will be cut by 20 percent.
• The UG and BPU are considering consolidating its fund for federal lobbying.

While the cuts are spread department-wide, two commissioners expressed considerable concern for the cuts in transportation, the meals program and other services that receive some UG funding.

"This is another impact on the disabled population," said commissioner Pat Pettey. "That's a very vulnerable population also being impacted by state reductions."

Commissioner Nathan Barnes said the budget, along with hurting those with lower income, indirectly punishes the northern portion of Wyandotte County.

"This is hurtful," he said. "Too much of this is pointed towards the north and the direction of those who need our services more. I can't vote for a budget like this."

Budget discussions involving law-enforcement and other items were pushed off until this week, where three separate budget workshops will be held.

"It's going to be a tough task at hand," said UG Mayor/CEO Joe Reardon. "It's pretty obvious that's not going to be an easy task. It's going to be important and instructive. There's not a commissioner around this table who wants to cut."

Tonight's Unified Government budget workshop session has been postponed until next week.

The UG's Board of Commissioners were originally scheduled to start discussing the budget next week.

More information when available.

General consensus among members of the Kansas City, Kan., Board of Education is the Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools District will lower its mill levy for the 2010-11 fiscal year.

Should the board decide to pass a five mill levy decrease this year, the school district would likely have to cut its School Resource Officers program.

Board members examined the various mill levy decrease scenarios at a special meeting Monday afternoon.

One of those scenarios involve the security program, a partnership between the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and the school district.

The district's share of the funding is $150,000 annually. It appears most board members are hesitant in cutting the program.

"Having officers there is a way of creating a calm feeling," said Gloria Willis, president of the board.

This year, should the program continue, three school resource officers would be located at each high school – up from two last year.

Meanwhile, board member George Breidenthal believes more information is needed before a decision on the program's future is made.

"Before I can decide, I'd like to have some anecdotal evidence about whether the program works," he said.

Still, it's likely the program will be spared for at least this school year.

Most board members prefer just a four-mill decrease.

The Kansas Legislature, after a busy week, has officially approved a 1-cent increase to the state's 5.3 cent sales tax.

The increased sales tax rate is expected to raise $314 million annually and will help fund a $13.6 billion. Most importantly, supporters say the increase will prevent further cuts to K-12 education and other programs statewide.

From The Topeka Capital-Journal:

The bill is pivotal to resolving a dispute between Republican conservatives seeking deeper cuts in spending and a coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans who want to set the budget knife aside and add 1 cent to the 5.3 cent sales tax to generate enough cash to finance a $13.6 billion budget.

The House and Senate previously approved the spending bill, and the House's early morning 64-61 vote on the tax plan followed passage by the Senate. Parkinson has expressed support for the budget outline and the revenue package for the fiscal year starting July 1.

One of the more interesting dynamics in this case is the proximity of both Wyandotte County and Johnson County to the State of Missouri.

Wyandotte County is the fourth largest county in state by population, while Johnson County has the highest population of any county in the state.

Tax rates are lower in Missouri, along with gas prices. It'll be cheaper for many Wyandotte Countians (and probably JOCO residents), particularly those on the eastern portion of the county, to just take the hop and a skip into Missouri and do their business.

For years, hard-headed members of the Kansas Legislature prevented Wyandotte County and the state from collecting gaming revenues as Kansas City, Mo's, casinos took in many dollars from Kansas residents.

Now, the state may have just given Missouri another financial break.

Add on the sales tax increase voters in KCK approved and it's a double whammy for many.

(CORRECTION: A correction regarding a portion of this story has been made.)

A proposal for district-wide furloughs in the Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools District could be made later this school year.

In preparation for the need to cut at least $14.6 million, one or two-day a year furloughs could be suggested for approval in the district.

"The district would close for one or two days," said Cynthia Lane, assistant superintendent in the school district. "If we were to do that it would save $650,000."

The proposed furloughs, which would be an unpaid day off for all district employees, was suggested by a budget committee formed of the district's principal.

Other budget reductions recommended from the committee would include:

• The school resource officer program would be cut, saving $100,000.

• The pre-school calendar would be changed to save $50,000 on transportation.

• The district's summer school program would be reduced by $500,000.

The district has announced it would likely dip into its contingency funding by $3 million. The principal's committee returned $10 million of cuts in recommendations.

One painful cut that would come at a later time is the entire athletic and activities budget in the district. If the programs were cut, the district would save over $1.1 million.

"We don't want to even discuss these things, but it's something we may have to consider," Lane said.

Kansas City, Kan., Board of Education president Gloria Willis said the cuts could be made if state funding is slashed.

"We don't want to do it if it's possible," she said. 

PICTURED: Board of Education President Gloria Willis and KCK Public Schools Superintendent Jill Shackelford.

The Board of Public Utilities will begin its budget presentation next Monday.

All week, board members and administrators will meet at the utility's administration building at 540 Minnesota Avenue to discuss the 2010 budget.

The meeting schedule:

• Monday, Dec. 7: The overview of the proposed budget will be presented. A strategic plan will be developed. The meeting will last from 1-5 p.m.

• Tuesday, Dec. 8: Administrative Division budgets, which include accounting, general management, human resources, customer service and purchasing/supply. The meeting is from 1-5 p.m.

• Wednesday, Dec. 9: Electric operations, technology division, electric production and supply division will have their presentations. The meeting is from 1-5 p.m.

• Thursday, Dec. 10: The water division will make the final presentation for the week. A wrap-up and follow-up will be made.

• Wednesday, Dec. 16: The budget will be approved by board members.

The public is welcomed to all meetings.

After Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson announced a transfer of $50 million from the State Highway Fund to the state's general fund, the Kansas Department of Transportation said the cuts will hurt the department in terms of jobs and quality.

So far this year, KDOT has had $229 million in revenue adjustments due to budget cuts.

“These reductions will have long-term fiscal consequences that will require additional spending in future fiscal years to return the system to good condition,” K-DOT Secretary Deb Miller said. "We are filling very few job vacancies and many of our maintenance crews are short-staffed. That means we are able to do less, and there is a consequence to that. If the winter season is significant and prolonged, costs that exceed our budget for salt, sand and overtime must be absorbed with our remaining operating budget authority."

The 2010 construction budget is about 40 percent of the annual construction spending the past 10 years.

KDOT will also limit equipment purchases by 50 percent, cancel several studies and suspend the purchase of equipment for various projects in Kansas.