Well, where to begin? Let’s see, reappraisal notifications have been mailed and again we the people are hammered by an average increase in value of nearly 8% (Spring Hill folks, over 14%). As we all know, the percentage of increase in valuation will result in a nearly identical increase in our property tax bills.
The overall Johnson County average increase in valuation, since 2020, is over 40%!!! For our neighbors in Spring Hill the increase is well over 50%. Since 2017 Spring Hill’s average valuations have increased 102%. That’s correct, in seven years Spring Hill’s valuations have more than doubled with taxes following suit. The rest of Johnson County is not far behind.
Next, let’s explore the HUGE and IMPENDING DISASTER, if not immediately dealt with: increasing the pay for Johnson County Commissioners. This idea was brought forward and was defeated as a recommendation by a MINORITY of the Charter Commission in their report issued early in 2022.
In our February 29th Committee of the Whole, called by Chairman Kelly, staff dusted off the Charter Commission’s 2022 MINORITY opinion highlighting the urgency of addressing the “underpayment of commissioners”. Failure to increase compensation would impinge upon the quality of those who seek to serve on the BOCC, according to the MINORITY report.
What are the current commissioner salaries? The base is $47,349.00 for district commissioners and $75,000 for the Chairman. Then add benefits: health insurance, phone allowance, car allowance, matching 401 K contributions and oh, the wonderful Kansas Public Employees Retirement System. I could never understand why ANY elected official would be allowed to be in the KPERS system. Elected officials are not employees, or so I thought. Additionally, without a vote, for 2024 we were given a $1,200 “technology” allowance. That would be called a stealth pay increase.
I declined KPERS and health insurance and my total compensation for 2023 was $53,458.38, according to my tax records sent to me by the county.
The current compensation packages for the remainder of the BOCC, per 2023 position detail:
District 1, Commissioner Becky Fast: $72,198
District 2, Commissioner Meyers: $67,733
District 4, Commissioner, Commissioner Hanzlick: $67,733
District 5, Commissioner Ashcraft: $72,198
District 6, Commissioner Allenbrand: $67,733
Chairman Kelly: $97,639
So why, suddenly, for Chairman Kelly is increasing the BOCC pay NOW of utmost importance? Remember late last year he proposed reducing the number of BOCC meetings nearly 50% from 46 to 26. That went over like a lead balloon. Perhaps because the 50% reduction of his time commitment as Chairman of the Johnson County BOCC was not supported by the majority, it is now CRITICAL to fatten his pay check to make up for the loss of all those billable hours at his big fancy law firm?
Meanwhile, your taxes continue to increase while the majority of the BOCC quietly ignore you and focus on their paychecks. Disgusting to say the least.
