Small Town News

Kansas Policy Institute Releases Kansas County Budget Analysis Report

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The Kansas Policy Institute released a June, 2010 publication titled Kansas County Budget Analysis - In Search of Efficient Government. This publication provides an overview of how county government compare with other counties of comparable size.

Dave Trabert, President of Kansas Policy Institute, is a frequent speaker to business, legislative and civic groups and does research and writes on fiscal policy and education issues.

Trabert's publication provides comparisons in government spending by size in nine categories that apply to Wabaunsee County. Those categories include 1. General Government (Appraiser, County Clerk, County Commissioners, County Treasurer, Election, Register of Deeds, Janitor/Custodian and Building) 2. Law Enforcement (Jail, Sheriff, etc.) 3. Court Services (Judicial Court, County Attorney) 4. Emergency Services (911, Dispatch, Ambulance, Emergency Preparedness) 5. Transportation (Road and Bridge) 6. Health care/Social Services (Coroner, Health, Mental Health, Elderly Programs.) 7. Cultural Services (Fair, Historical Society, Library) 9. All other ( Bond and Interest, Capital Improvement, Conservation District, Economic Development, Employee Benefits, Extension Council, Motor Vehicles, Noxious Weed, Planning/Zoning, Soil Conservation).

Wabaunsee County falls in the 5,000 to 10,000 population category. There are 28 counties in the group. Following is how Wabaunsee County compares to those other 27 counties.

General Government. Wabaunsee County spends $191.91 per resident. The high per-resident rate is $212.24 and the low is $77.38.

Law Enforcement. Wabaunsee County spends $123.02 per resident. The high per-resident is $431.59 and the low is $68.72.

Court Services. Wabaunsee County spends $54.13. The high per-resident is $217.53 and the low is $20.41.

Emergency Services. Wabaunsee County spends $22.19. The high per-resident is $272.68 and the low is $10.83.

Transportation. Wabaunsee County spends $236.38. The high per-resident is $931.73 and the low is $172.21.

Health Care. Wabaunsee County spends $64.43. The high is $591.21 and the low is $32.37.

Cultural Services. Wabaunsee County spends $21.01. The high is $208.97 and the low is $0.00.

All Other Services. Wabaunsee County spends $178.84. The high is $3,430.23 and the low is $33.45.

Total spending by county puts Wabaunsee County at $881.09 per resident. Of the other 27 counties comparable in size the high, per resident is $5,415.66 and the low is $769.50.

Those figures indicate that of the 28 counties in the 5,000 to 10,000 population range, there are 25 counties that spend more per resident and two that spend less. Those two counties are Brown and Thomas at $769.50 and $829.34 respectively.

The twenty-five counties spending more, ranging from $882.43 to $5416.66 are Stevens, Phillips, Norton, Harper, Washington, Sherman, Ottawa, Morris, Gray, Ellsworth, Pawnee, Mitchell, Russell, Greenwood, Grant, Kingman, Doniphan, Anderson, Coffey, Clay, Cloud, Pratt, Linn, Wilson and Nemaha. Additional information from this publication can be found at www.kansaspoli-cy.org



Copyright 2010 The Wabaunsee County Signal-Enterprise, Alma, Kansas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2011 The Wabaunsee County Signal-Enterprise Alma, Kansas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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