By STEVE WEBSTER
Great Bend Post

Barton County Commissioners Monday approved a resolution to form an extension district with Ellis County. Once formed, the district would become an independent taxing entity, meaning the county no longer would be required to provide general fund support.

Barton County KSU Extension Council President Natalie Fullerton presented details to the board about what kind of mill levy the council would propose.

“We have determined that the mill levy cap would be no higher than 1.5 mills,” Fullerton said.

She added that they believe the mill levy would be a .78 “for the next few years.”

The .78 mill levy would generate around $215,000 which is the level Barton County Extension is currently funded in 2016. At 1.5 mills, approximately $260,000 could be generated at the so called mill levy cap.

Commissioner Alicia Straub supports the formation of the council, saying it keeps spending decisions at home instead of Topeka.

“If you look at the history of extension districts across the state, pretty much the whole northern half of the state has already formed districts,” Staub said. “My fear would be that the state would come down and tell us you must form a district”

“Looking at the current budget situation at the state, I could see them doing that in the very near future and doing it in a way they did the tax lid and put that on the tax payers.”

The extension board would be made up of eight members, four from Barton and four from Ellis County. Initially, Barton and Ellis County Commissioners would appoint the four members with two coming up for election in two years and the other two in four years.

There will be a 60-day protest period, during which residents can oppose the new district through a qualified petition that includes no less than 5 percent of the county’s qualified voters. If that happens, the future of the extension district would be determined by a vote of all registered voters in the county.