League of Women Voters
of Salina, Kansas

Keep the dialogue rolling
Is Kansas' extensive system of local government what we want? The time to find answers is now

Scott Seirer, Executive Editor

Speaking in the Salina Public Library, Dave Kerr, a former state senator from Hutchinson, noted that Kansas has 18,000 more local government employees than the average of our four neighboring states. We rank third among all states in the number of employees who draw paychecks from cities, counties and other local government entities. And we have lots of those entities -- ranking fifth among the states.

Should this concern us?

Perhaps. Or maybe not. But at least we should be aware that we are so rich in local government, for that gives us the opportunity to weigh and discuss the value and cost of the governments that serve us.

That discussion has begun. And the Salina League of Women Voters is seeing to it that the conversation doesn't stall, as our Saline County commission wishes. It was the league that brought Kerr and two other panelists to town for a Thursday evening forum attended by about 30 people.

Two points are clear: We've done too little in Kansas to question the need for our intricate web of local governments. And even if we were to question that and seek to consolidate and streamline the governments that serve us, state laws would be boulders in our path.

A bill expected to be introduced into the Legislature this week would free Kansas communities to consolidate as their residents see fit. It would keep the state from meddling in local matters. It's passage is crucial.

And so is our questioning. Our extensive local government payroll costs us an estimated $630 million more than it would if it were on par with neighboring states. What do we get for that money? Are we providing ourselves with a level of service that those in neighboring states envy? Or are our payrolls a cost of inefficiency?

Let us find out. Let us explore what benefits or ills consolidation might bring us. Let us reject the notion that a government system set up when we traveled by horse must endure.

The Salina League of Women Voters has given us a good start. Let's pick up the reins and keep going.