Note from Commissioner Howell:
Sedgwick County Government is not the problem
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Budget discussions can be incredibly boring and technical; most people just don’t want to think about them. We typically trust that whatever makes the government work will continue, and we don’t need to pay close attention. Besides, people assume their input does not matter, and in most cases, that may be true.
But rather than relying on generalizations and assumptions, I invite you to help me determine the best path forward. In most years, I hear very little from my constituents regarding the size and scope of this level of government. Rarely do I hear serious ideas on how to cut any spending. The loudest voices are those clamoring for increased spending for various reasons. The only unified voice I hear is regarding the ever-growing property tax bills. I have several initiatives to address the crushing burden of property taxes. I have a lot of data, and I don’t think Sedgwick County is the problem. I have made presentations around the county for several years, and when people get a chance to see the data, most of them conclude that Sedgwick County is not the problem. Nevertheless, we will challenge ourselves to implement more efficiencies and trim where we can.
Overall, Sedgwick County levies property taxes for about 120 separate taxing jurisdictions. Each of these jurisdictions has taxing authority, elected officials, and passes a yearly budget to fund the services they provide. It is important to realize you are paying several separate governments when you pay your county taxes. In Derby, about 20% of my property taxes go to the county. The other 80% goes to eight other governmental jurisdictions. I am proud that Sedgwick County will likely lower the mill levy again this year, making the 2025 mill levy rate the lowest it has been in 27 years.
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As a conservative, I consider myself a data-driven fiscal hawk, always hunting for places to cut costs. Truthfully, Sedgwick County is very lean while still providing robust essential services that the residents of this great county desire and expect. I have quite a bit of data that reinforces this conclusion. Nevertheless, there are always things we can do better or more efficiently.
Even though it is boring and technical, I invite you to explore the proposed budget for next year, and if you find places to trim, I encourage you to forward those ideas to me. Here is a link to the recommended 2025 budget. We have an online public comment forum here to catalog your electronic comments, and we have two public in-person budget hearings: Wednesday, July 31 at 6 p.m. and secondly on August 21 at 9 a.m. Both of these will be in the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) Chambers, which is in the lower-level auditorium of the Ruffin Building at 100 N. Broadway in Wichita. When the second hearing is concluded, the Commissioners make motions to amend the budget. Once all that is said and done, the BoCC will have to adopt the budget for FY2025 that day. I hope you will consider registering your ideas in one of those opportunities or just email me here at Jim.Howell@Sedgwick.gov.
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The views expressed by Commissioner Jim Howell in this newsletter do not necessarily represent the governing body of the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners or Sedgwick County Government. | |
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Learn about issues affecting your community!
You are invited to attend the next District 5 Citizens Advisory Board meeting on Friday, Aug. 2, from 4-6 p.m. at the Oaklawn Community Center. Susan Erlenwein, Director of Environmental Services, will give a presentation on the Household Hazardous Waste facility, solid waste and trash collection.
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Other upcoming events with Commissioner Howell: | |
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Come and go informal discussion on Sedgwick County issues with Commissioner Howell. Coffee & soda provided.
- Monday, Aug. 12, 4-5:30 p.m.
- Range 54, 5725 E. Kellogg Dr., Wichita, 67218
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Come and go informal discussion on Sedgwick County issues with Commissioner Howell. Coffee & soda provided.
- Tuesday, Aug. 20, 7-9 a.m.
- The Grill, 222 N. 2nd Ave., Mulvane, 67110
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Come and go informal discussion on Sedgwick County issues with Commissioner Howell. Coffee provided.
- Friday, Aug. 30, 7-9 a.m.
- Calvary Baptist Church, Gymnasium. Enter at the glass doors on east side at 1636 E. Patriot, Derby 67037
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Early voting is underway for Aug. 6 Primary Election
Make your voice heard in this important election year and cast a ballot in the Aug. 6 primary election! A list of early in-person voting locations is available here.
To make voting quick and convenient, the Sedgwick County Election Office has added 28 new polling sites. That means one in three voters has a new assigned polling place. Check the voter ID card you get in the mail or go to the Kansas Secretary of State's VoterVew website at Kansas Secretary of State | VoterView (voteks.org). Watch the video below for more details.
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Sedgwick County Zoo is now home to rescued bear cubs
Two 8-pound black bear cubs - a male and a female - now call Wichita home. They were transported from Oregon after their mother was shot and killed, leaving the helpless cubs on their own in the wild. Visitors to the Sedgwick County Zoo will soon be able to see the cubs in their exhibit for a few hours each day, as the tiny bears get familiar with their new surroundings. Watch the video below to learn more about their story.
If you want to support the zoo, tickets for its biggest fundraiser - Zoobilee - go on sale Aug. 1. The annual event will be Saturday, Sept. 7, from 6 p.m.-midnight with more than 60 local restaurants and bars offering delicious bites and drinks. Visitors can also enjoy live music and one of Wichita’s largest silent auctions, with hundreds of items to bid on. To buy tickets, visit Zoobilee – Sedgwick County Zoo (scz.org).
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Register of Deeds safeguards military discharge document
Veterans are encouraged to bring their DD-214 discharge form to the annual Veterans Awareness Expo at the WSU Hughes Metroplex Saturday, Aug. 3, so the Register of Deeds, Tonya Buckingham, can electronically file it for free and provide five certified copies. It's important to protect this document because vets need it to access the military benefits they have earned. Vets and active-duty military can also get a free discount card at the event that's good at businesses across Kansas.
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Congratulations to 10 new Sheriff’s deputies who graduated July 12, after 25 weeks of training. Four of the deputies are women – one of whom, Mary Vannatter, earned the highest GPA in the class. The new deputies are now in field training, partnered with a veteran deputy on the streets. With these new deputies on board, the Sheriff’s Office now has 37 open positions to fill, compared to 133 in late 2022. A big improvement in staffing! Watch the video below to see some of the training recruits went through. | |
Leaders, Achievers & Winners (LAW) Camp entertains area youth | |
Sedgwick County Fire District 1, Sheriff's Office and other first responders teamed up to host a fun and educational camp for kids ages 10-14 years old at OJ Watson Park. The three-day event provided hands-on learning, allowing campers to see firsthand what law enforcement and firefighters do on the job and then try it themselves. | |
Out and About with Commissioners | |
City and county leaders, along with Corrections staff, celebrated the graduation of 13 teenagers who completed coursework through the Evening Reporting Center. This evidence-based programming helps youth in the juvenile justice system find success by addressing their individual needs. Commissioner Jim Howell was the keynote speaker. | |
The family of Mark Sroufe, former Park Superintendent, attended the dedication of a pavilion and bench at Lake Afton in his name. Sroufe worked for Sedgwick County 38 years before his sudden death last year. | |
Connect with Sedgwick County | | | | |
