While the windfall from Enbridge Pipeline’s valuation keeps blowing our way, the overall benefit is negligible.
That’s because commissioners must make up for cuts by the state.
The second, though not final, draft of Allen County’s 2017 budget showed a $35 million increase — this year’s was about $38 million more than before Enbridge went online — in assessed valuation, due to the construction of the pipeline.
At first glance, the additional revenue would have allowed a sizable decrease in property taxes, from 44.048 mills to 32.728 mills.
Instead, commissioners raised the levies on several smaller funds, resulting in a net decrease of 1.5 mills in property taxes.
Still, they have about $2.5 million socked away in a capital outlay fund, courtesy of the pipeline.
Funding for road and bridge work will see the biggest increase, going from 10.8 to 15.9 mills, a jump of $2.2 million. Kansas Department of Transportation funds have been drawn on repeatedly by Gov. Sam Brownback to keep the state’s budget in balance. That means matching money for county and municipal projects has fallen on hard times.
The county has delayed work on several bridges and some road projects.
A week ago Mitch Garner, director of Public Works, was asked to develop a list of infrastructure improvements.
Overall, 2017’s assessed valuation stands at $138.23 million, just a smidgen less than this year’s $141.1 million but significantly greater than 2015’s $99.5 million.
A BUDGET consideration that surfaced Tuesday morning was from a proposal by Extension Agent Carla Nemecek for the county to fund a five-year improvement plan for fair buildings in Riverside Park, first mentioned without as much detail three weeks ago.
Nemecek gave a structure-by-structure outline of what could be done for about $150,000, funded in a lump sum or by yearly advances of $30,000 to $35,000.
The county provides $11,000 annually to the fair board, with the money mostly eaten up by the annual events. Such things as utility and insurance costs take much of the allowance. “We have a building fund,” and Fair Board Member Larry Crawford, “but it mostly goes for repairs, a board here, a board there,” not major improvements.
Nemecek suggested a special committee be appointed to oversee what would be done. Some outside money might enter the equation. “We have gotten a $2,000 grant,” she said.
“I like the idea,” Commissioner Tom Williams said. “I see some individual possibilities,” including perhaps some in-kind contributions on the part of county crews.
