Fresh off setting budgets for next year, the topic of city-county operations dominated a recent Talk of Emporia on KVOE.
Mayor Danny Giefer and County Commission Chair Rollie Martin had a wide-ranging interview starting with their respective budgets. Giefer says the city was able to accomplish its goal of a flat budget despite some department-specific challenges.
Martin says the county was able to reduce its levy nearly half a mill, even with expenses up somewhat. He says increased valuations helped to offset the higher expense totals.
Martin says the 1-percent sales tax passed several years ago has proved to be a major boon to county operations.
That sales tax money helps to offset capital improvement costs like new Sheriff’s Office or Road and Bridge vehicles, building enhancements, scholarship appropriations to Emporia State University and other projects.
Giefer says the sales tax has certainly helped city operations as well.
For the city, one of the biggest concerns is infrastructure. This has been a rugged year for water main failures, and those have put a strain on operations and the budget.
The main infrastructure matter for Lyon County is roads — and, more recently, road vacations. Martin says the county has about 100 miles of property that are roads in name only, so the county is starting to look more closely at what to do with these situations.
One discussion point that may well see more talk in upcoming months is food policy. Healthier Lyon County is now looking for ways to improve access to fresh food countywide. Martin says this is a good discussion to have.
Giefer says this discussion is in the early stages and involves several partners.
The topic is tentatively set to be on the next city-county joint meeting’s agenda this fall.
