Month: May 2015
Diamond R Jewelry
Kansas governor says he’s not drawing clear lines on taxes
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Gov. Sam Brownback says he’s not drawing clear lines on what he’ll accept as the GOP-dominated Kansas Legislature considers backtracking on one of his major economic initiatives.
Brownback said Wednesday that such an approach is more helpful as lawmakers work on a plan for raising taxes. They must close a projected $406 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
The House Taxation Committee was working on a plan to raise the state’s sales tax to 6.5 percent from 6.15 percent. But the plan also would tax some business income exempted by lawmakers in 2012.
Brownback championed the 2012 policy as an economic stimulus. It exempted the profits of 281,000 business owners and 53,000 farmers from income taxes.
Influential business groups want to preserve the tax break.
County considers using depletion reserves, won’t cut EMS services
By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
A sharp drop in oil prices has left Ellis County with a more than $1 million budget shortfall for 2016.
As the county commission works to erase the budget deficit, one area they will not cut is Emergency Medical Services to Ellis and Victoria.
A proposal to cut EMS to the two towns was brought up as an idea to help save the county money, but at a special budget meeting Tuesday, the commission took that option off the table.
The mayors of both Victoria and Ellis were among those who addressed the commission in support of continuing services in their towns.
Victoria mayor Jerry Kanzenbach read a statement in support of keeping services in Victoria.
“Why are Victoria and Ellis always targeted but no mention of cuts to Hays?” Kanzenbach said. “The county sure doesn’t falter when spending our tax dollars that we contribute, but is oh so quick to cut our services.”
Commissioner Dean Haselhorst said he received about 25 calls from people who were concerned about the loss of those services.
The commissioners agreed they will not cut EMS services.
Among the other options discussed to reduce the shortfall was the possibility of using funds from the oil and gas depletion fund.
According to Ellis County Administrator Greg Sund, the fund has approximately $3.1 million and, once the fund is drained, the county will not receive any more funds.
Sund said he believes this fund was created for times like this.
“This is an economic downturn that the county knew nothing about, the residents here knew nothing about,” he said. “It was driven by oil prices.”
Haselhorst also expressed interest in using a portion of that fund.
“That fund was created for a reason, and I know surrounding counties have used it,” he said.
He suggested possibly using $1 million of the fund to help alleviate the 2016 budget shortfall.
The commission also will consider at the possibility of a sales tax, as well as cutting funding to outside agencies.
Commissioners will hear requests for subsidies from outside agencies at each commission meeting in June before holding another budget meeting toward the end of June.
Ellis discusses employee health insurance Wednesday
ELLIS–The Ellis City Council will conduct a work session tonight, Wednesday, May 20, to discuss employee health insurance.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in Ellis City Hall.
Chairman Moran on Expansion of Vehicle Airbag Recalls
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee for Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance and Data Security, released the following statement today on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) announcement of the expansion of the Takata airbag recalls to 34 million vehicles. Additionally, the Department’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a Consent Order to Takata requiring the company to cooperate in all future regulatory actions that NHTSA undertakes in its ongoing investigation and oversight of the company.
“We must make certain Americans are safe behind the wheel and that the technology meant to protect drivers and their families does not do them harm. Today’s announcement reinforces the urgency of the Takata airbag recalls, and I appreciate the efforts of NHTSA to help us better understand the facts behind what is causing these defects. I will work with my colleagues on the Senate Commerce Committee to examine this important matter and ensure the safety of American consumers.”
At the DOT’s insistence, Takata has determined that a defect exists in certain types of frontal driver and passenger side air bag inflators. Vehicles manufactured by the following companies are impacted by the national recall: BMW, Chrysler, Daimler Trucks, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru and Toyota.
Consumers can check their vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) at a new website, www.SaferCar.gov/RecallsSpotlight, to see if it is covered by the expanded recall. The website will also provide regular updates on the status of this and other recalls and of NHTSA’s investigation.
