League of Women Voters
of Salina, Kansas

Lead foot forward is city’s
We’re still waiting for county to take a step toward consolidation

Salina Journal

The Salina City Commission put a progressive foot forward Monday when members approved significant additions to the city’s strategic plan.

As reported by the Journal’s Darrin Stineman, additions include: emphasis on affordable housing; efforts to be more environmentally friendly; a funding plan and timeline for a new city pool; and action regarding the city’s water supply, including creation of a long-range water plan. Those are important elements and deserve focus. But there is another smart addition, a goal to “honor the commitment to the local League of Women Voters chapter to review the comprehensive consolidation with Saline County of government services.”

This is an effort that all county residents should appreciate, including those living inside and outside the Salina city limits. It could make government more efficient, which will benefit every single resident no matter what their address.

A study of potential benefits of full or partial consolidation of city and county services might find ways to reduce duplication of services, provide better planning, end boundary disputes, save money on purchasing, enhance public safety and improve our century-old system of local government. Every elected official and public employee works for the rest of us — the taxpayers who pay their bills.

As such, they have an obligation to find the most cost-efficient ways to deliver services. We see those efforts on several fronts and generally believe our city and county governments are good stewards of public dollars. But that doesn’t show with county commissioners when it comes to discussing potential benefits of full or partial consolidation.

For years, city commissioners and staff have shown a desire to move forward in this area. This consolidation addition to the city’s action plan affirms that fact. County commissioners have shown little interest in changing the status quo, something that will not change until Saline County residents raise a ruckus.

And remember this: Those living inside Salina’s city limits make up about 85 percent of the county population and pay property taxes both to the city and county. They stand to gain the most from full or partial consolidation.

City commissioners have taken a good step forward. Let’s hope county commissions follow.

— Tom Bell Editor & Publisher