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 Today's Editorial
Say ‘yes’ to call for joint study
The League of Women Voters is on target; we should look at government consolidation
The question of whether city and county government should be
consolidated is still unanswered, and that nags the Salina League of
Women Voters.
Could we have better, more efficient, more responsive local government through consolidation? Could we save taxpayers money?
Those questions beg answers.
On Monday, League of Women Voters representatives met with the Salina
City Commission and asked that they support creation of a joint task
force to study — merely study — city-county consolidation.
Commissioners were unanimous in agreeing.
Next Monday, the League will pay a similar visit to Saline County
commissioners, who heretofore have turned a cold shoulder to
consolidation talk.
They should warm to the chance for study.
City and county government are huge operations, with annual expenditures exceeding $90 million.
In the business world, shareholders and competitors provide management
with a constant incentive to increase efficiency, better serve
customers and increase profits.
But in government, that incentive is less acute. The status quo is entrenched, the fear of change intense.
Inefficiencies that might result likely are not readily apparent to
taxpayers. What’s worse, government’s inability to bear the cost of
those inefficiencies is relatively easy. Sales and property taxes rise
with inflation, and increases in tax rates and fees often draw only
minor grumbling.
The League of Women Voters wants the status quo to be challenged. It’s
in the public’s best interest to rally behind the League and demand a
study of consolidation.
What might the study find? Where might it lead? Who knows?
The League earlier conducted its own study of consolidation and fell
short of making any recommendation — except that the issue should be
explored more formally and in greater detail by a team of city and
county representatives.
Let’s get to work. Let’s lay our fears aside and explore whether there
are ways the delivery of local government services can be improved.
City commissioners are willing.
On Monday, the League will seek similar support from the county. Step
aboard, county commissioners. The chance for better government is worth
a look.
— Scott Seirer
Executive Editor
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