MODERATOR: Darla Jaye, NewsRadio 980 KMBZ
PANEL:
John Segale, Commissioner District 2
David Lindstrom, Commissioner District 3
Sheriff Frank Denning
Charlotte O’Hara, Private Citizen
Tracy Thomas, Tax Opponent, Volunteer Chair JoCoNo
Wayne Flaherty, Grassroots Activist
OPENING STATEMENTS:
John Segale stated that Public Safety is the number one priority for Johnson County. That is why he voted to put the issue on the ballot for a vote by the residents and why he supports passage of the tax. A sales tax is the best source of funding for this vital service and would be a constant source of revenue shared by everyone.
Charlotte O’Hara stated that in 1995 voters approved a quarter cent sales tax for Public Safety and it did not sunset. This proposal for a quarter cent sales tax is another tax for Public Safety that would not sunset. According to state law 36% of all tax collected would go to the cities in Johnson County and the remaining 64% goes to Public Safety. Since that time over $2,400,000 has been collected for Public Safety, according to Brian Newby, Budget Director. Voters should be allowed to vote for bond issues for building projects. Operations should not be funded with a sales tax.
Sheriff Denning stated that he was elected in 2005. The Sheriff’s Department is required by statute to operate jails. The jails were full when he was elected and still are. The Sheriff Department has had to contract with other jails throughout the state for over 900 prisoners. Denning has informed the BOCC about infrastructure needs since 2005. The Olathe jail needs renovated and used as a booking, classification and intake center for the county. Prisoners would be housed there for 72 hours. Approximately 70% of those arrested will be released without requiring a maximum security facility. Denning stated that constructing the jail, remodeling the Olathe jail and constructing a Crime Lab are top priority for the Sheriff’s Department.
Tracy Thomas stated that this is really a new tax. None of this will go to the courts but that fact is not mentioned. The Court process needs to be accelerated. There is $30 million in the budget now. The Sheriff has not mentioned that there is a Plan B. The Kansas Legislature gave approval for a quarter cent sales tax that will sunset in ten years. So if this tax fails to be approved, there is another already to go to the voters next year. Sales taxes are the most regressive tax as it hurts the poor and those on fixed income the most. The polling that has been referenced asked if there was satisfaction with Public Safety, not if there should be a tax increase. The BOCC has not set up a Campaign Committee that would be charged with informing the public about the issue.
David Lindstrom stated he was a proponent of the sales tax but would have preferred that it sunset. The residents of Johnson County enjoy a very good quality of life, good schools, good infrastructure with reasonable cost of living and demand that services be funded as required. Lindstrom is convinced that there is a need for additional funding for Public Safety. The county gave up the quarter cent tax to public schools twice and it will sunset on December 31, 2008. It has been a struggle to keep the county mill levy in check. The comprehensive plan for additional capital needs should include a preferred sunset.
Wayne Flaherty told a humorous story with the message that the jail tax will end when “hell freezes over”. The voter does not have a choice when the sales tax has not sunset. It is a convenience for administrators so they don’t have to justify their spending on an annual basis. Every department needs to justify every penny to the Board of County Commissioners every year. And the BOCC needs to justify those expenditures to the voters.
Question: Lenexa approved a 3/8 cent tax for parks and roads. The Research Triangle will be asking for a 1/8 cent sales tax. Why are there no sunsets on sales taxes?
Lindstrom: There is no sunset on the needs for Public Safety. Circumstances change constantly and in the end, the majority winds. The Kansas Legislature made the wording of the statute that made it forever.
Thomas: Vote your conscience.
Segale: County is a different type of government than city government. The Lenexa tax will end when the capital funding is paid off. The jail has a 1.5 mill operating cost. There are inefficiencies when funds sunset. The BOCC has spent down the reserve to reasonable levels.
O’Hara: Since 1995 the tax has paid $36.9 million for facilities and $204 million for operations.
Segale: Bonds are for buildings and roads. Property tax or sales tax is for operations.
Denning: The quarter cent approved in Topeka included a 10 year sunset. The BOCC must approve it and submit it to a vote of the people. The Sheriff’s Department is very frugal with spending. Hiring has been suspended and there will be no backfill for attrition.
Segale: If voters object to 36% going to the cities, then the law needs to be changed.
Question: How many illegal aliens are in the jail?,p>
Denning: There are 40 undocumented illegals in jail now. They have been reported to ICE and through the SCAB program. The jail is paid $137.00 per day but the cost is $238.00 per day. That has an impact on other areas. They are waiting pick up by Immigration.
Question: As the cities annex more and more county land, hasn’t there been a reduction in area that the Sheriff’s Department needs to cover?
Denning: The rural areas have diminished somewhat. But the Sheriff’s Department has a role with every municipal police department.
Question: What is JIAC – Juvenile Intake and Assessment?
Denning: The Department of Corrections is in charge of that agency. When the municipal police pick up a juvenile, the juvenile is brought to JIAC for assessment. The JIAC staff determines where the juvenile is placed; home, temporary shelter, foster care, medical care or detention. The Sheriff’s Department provides two officers 24/7, 365 days per year, the same as JIAC staff.
Segale: We don’t know what the future holds. The Crime Lab and the Juvenile Services Center need to be built. When the building costs are paid, the funds will be used to pay for operations.
Question: Has the crime rate increased since 1995? What percentage of the jail population is between the ages of 24-27 and 18-24?
Denning: The crime rate has increased along with the increase in population. I don’t have the numbers of the population you requested, but I will provide them to you when they have been determined. Early intervention with youth pays in the long run so youth can learn to be good, productive citizens. Government cannot raise your children. When the people of Johnson County tell us they feel safe, we must be doing something right.
O’Hara: The sales tax needs to be decoupled from the cities.
Question: How can taxpayer funded lobbyist be justified? A percentage for art has been appropriated for all new buildings. Are you all pledging you will raise taxes?
Segale: Taxes will be raised when it is necessary. We are trying to fix problems.
The county funds Med-Act that provides a valuable service to all the people in the county. If the county did not provide the service, then each city would have to pick that up which would fragmentize the service. If Med-Act is privatized, then insurance costs would go up. Cutting the budget means cutting services to segments of society. There is no free lunch.
O’Hara: The Sheriff will defer $4 million during the Olathe Jail remodeling project. When that is finished, there will be a 15.5% increase to fill all the positions and to operate both jails. Specific needs should be identified with costs.
Thomas: A new position, Justice Coordinator, is being created. It appears this person would work with all the departments and agencies to determine fiscal needs. The Justice Coordinator would then report to the BOCC to express the needs of each entity. This reduces the public discussion and alleviates each department head from directly dealing with the BOCC in pubic to justify funding.
Question: Why are highly trained deputies used as jail guards?
Denning: The trained deputies are an insurance policy. A fully trained, fully staffed jail is efficient and provides a safe environment for staff and inmates. When emergencies arise, such as Katrina and Greensburg, we can put boots on the ground in real situations to assist. It also provides training for other emergencies as they occur.
Question: Why are people with DUI’s in the jail?
Denning: The Judiciary determines if people are remanded to jail. We provide an environment that is compassionate and treats each inmate with dignity. This avoids lawsuits.
Question: What will the costs be in 2010?
Denning: The operating costs in 2010 will be $200,000 for the Crime Lab, $200,000 for JIAC, debt service on the jail $4.5 million, debt service on the Juvenile Services Center $1.2 million, debt service on the Crime Lab $1.2 million, and for 554 inmates in jail @ $122 per day is over $67 million.
Question: The ballot language is vague. Wouldn’t housing inmates in private jails be more cost effective since there is a possible savings of 50%? Liability insurance is available if that is a problem.
Denning: We are outsourcing medical services and meals. The average length of stay is 17 days. Mental health patients stay an average of 128 days because there is a shortage of beds in mental hospitals. The average stay for illegal immigrants is 78 days. We are providing services cheaper at $102.91 without assuming the liability that would be incurred with housing inmates in private jails.
WRAP-UP:
Flaherty: Taxes that never sunset are not good for taxpayers and there is less accountability.
Lindstrom: There are 525,000 people in Johnson County and everyone cannot agree on everything. I support the sales tax.
Thomas: I have spent a lot of time and energy over the years fighting taxes. Please vote no.
Denning: This has been a good discussion. We are working hard to do what is best for Johnson County and the voters need to hold us accountable. Anyone interested in a tour, please contact us.
O’Hara: This is the second Public Safety tax that has no sunset. We are raising money for cities when we vote for this tax. Operations should not be funded with a sales tax.
Segale: No one likes paying taxes or raising taxes. We have looked at all the options and try to find the most cost efficient way to do things. The study was started in 2004 and in 2005 it was decided that the jail should be expanded. Funding comes from a sales tax or a property tax. Those are the choices. We need and want to be held accountable.
Click here for a fact sheet detailing a city sales tax. Also, for more information provided by the county visit their website at www.jocogov.org.
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