Two Community Meetings Scheduled
Effects of State Funding to be Discussed
When should one get involved in the political process? Often times it is when some government action, or lack of action, affects one personally on either the local, state or national level. This prompts one to take some action to protect one’s personal interests. When others with the same interests are also threatened, or affected, then individuals join forces to gain strength in advocating their cause.
The current state of Kansas budgetary cuts are threatening the welfare of two groups of Cheyenne County residents, both of which have very little input for their own welfare. These two groups are our youth and the dependent aged population.
The 1966 amendment to the Kansas Constitution mandated that the “Kansas legislature shall make suitable provision for the finance of educational interests in the state”. This amendment shifted the primary responsibility of funding K-12 education from the local school board district to the state legislature. One of the intents of this change was to assure that every K-12 student in Kansas had an equal opportunity to receive a good education. The state legislature has assumed the responsibility of distributing the accumulated tax revenues from Kansas property, income and sales tax and other revenue sources. These revenues are distributed to school districts based on each districts financial wealth or need. By our state’s standards, USD 297 is considered a financially needy district. In the school year 2008 – 2009, two-thirds of our $3.26 million in revenues, or $2.05 million, came from the state of Kansas. Through our local property taxes we raised most of the remaining one-third of revenues, or $1.1 million, needed to educate our youth.
According to the 1930 US Census, Cheyenne County’s population peaked at 7,000 citizens. Our population has been declining steadily over the last 80 years to our current population of 2,742. Throughout this population decline our community has provided excellent educational opportunities for all its youth. Even during the Great Depression our community made physical improvements to its educational facilities. Our ancestors provided a well rounded educational opportunity for its youth including the usual core subjects, as well as music, art, home economics, industrial arts, drama, vocational agriculture, journalism and sports.
Historically our community has taken pride in preparing our youth to face the ever increasing challenges of this world, regardless of where they choose to live. The current state budget short falls may threaten our community’s ability to provide this well rounded education. Since we are so heavily dependent on state funding, any major state budgetary cut is amplified throughout our schools. If the state legislature chooses not to adequately provide its portion of our school funding, where will our community turn to for revenues to educate our youth?
At the local level, are we willing to increase the local property taxes to meet a portion or all of this short fall? At the state level, will we support legislation for other means of generating revenues to fund our school and all schools throughout the state? These are questions we all must be ready to answer regardless of our age or whether we have children or grandchildren currently in our school system. Good schools and medical health care help draw and retain young families in our community.
The second group affected by state budgetary cuts is our dependent senior citizens, particularly those receiving Medicaid. The Good Samaritan Village currently has 47 of our county residents receiving skilled nursing care. Of these 47 residents, 29 or 61% are cared for solely with state funds. The Governor recently reduced state Medicaid funding by 10%. This equates to $4,500 weekly in lower GSV revenues from the state. Any cuts in revenues must be met by cuts in services and staff and offset by increases in private pay revenues. State budgetary cuts in these senior citizen’s services also include programs that allow individuals to remain in their homes as long as possible.
Many of these dependent individuals have little or no voice in the outcome of their own well being. It is imperative that those that are able should take action in caring for these individuals: our youth and our dependent aged.
Please attend a forum at the St. Francis High School auditorium on Monday, February 8, at 7:30 PM. The Community Builders are sponsoring this forum on the effects of state funding cuts on Cheyenne County residents. The superintendent of schools, spokesmen for GSV and Cheyenne County Hospital and the county commissioners will be present.
Another opportunity for discussion includes the Town Hall Meeting with Senator Ostmeyer and Representative Faber on Saturday, February 13 from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM at the Bird City Legion Hall. A large crowd from St. Francis and Bird City at this meeting would show our county’s united concerns for these issues. Whether you attend the forum, the town hall meeting, or both, please contact our two area legislators and express your views.
