Manhattan Mayor Seeks Re-election

Manhattan Mayor Wynn Butler has been on the Manhattan City Commission for four years–but he still wants the see the City’s “debt bubble smashed.” That’s why Butler is running for re-election to the commission, having dropped off paperwork at the City Clerk’s office this past Friday. The Riley County Clerk’s office received that paperwork Monday.

Butler has served as an administrator at Barton County Community College at Fort Riley–and he continues to teach there full-time.

The following is Butler’s statement upon seeking re-election:

I believe some progress has been made on the tax issue.  The city debt as of December 2014 is 270.9 million dollars.  That is a million dollars less than December 2013.  But the debt payments are still a big factor in our property tax.  The debt bubble is not smashed yet. It needs to be driven down to a more reasonable level.  City expenditures for 2015 are budgeted at approximately 134 million dollars. The Bond and Interest fund will consume slightly over 29 million dollars.  In 2011 the debt was approximately 225 million.  We need to move the debt back down to that level.  The city needs to retire more bonds than it issues.  We cannot sustain continued increases in our debt level.  The mil levy reflects this unbridled spending.  While the mil levy increases have been small the past few years, the appraised value of homes and business has off set the perceived tax reduction.   The bottom line is that taxes have been going up greater than the value received for those tax payments.

Substantial improvements have been made to city infrastructure.  Significant gains have been made in flood management, distribution of city water, the billing for city water, the downtown corridor and in planning for road maintenance.  Priorities need to be established to ensure that we devote sufficient funds for future road maintenance.  Ten million per year is required and must be allocated, to our streets.  Other projects cannot be the priority.   The parks and recreation improvement effort must continue, in incremental fashion using the quality of life tax.  That tax needs to be renewed in future years.   Infrastructure needs must be prioritized and the city needs to live within its means.  The credit card is maxed out.

The City will continue to grow.  But growth does not justify continued and unrelenting tax increases.   Inflation my cause increased operating cost.  But growth should pay for itself.  Economic Development is not an excuse for higher property taxes.   The City staff is focusing on the “Heartland award” process – essential a quality management initiative that will ensure best value for tax dollar expenditure.  I want to spend the next few years championing that process as it will infuse some spending culture change and result in best value for every of tax dollar spent.

Specific issues for the next few years:

1. Renew the quality of life tax for Parks and Recreation improvements.
2. Re-purpose the uses of the Community Building and Bluemount Cabin.
3. Continue private public partnerships: like the social services water bill donation initiative and   the funding for renovation of the stage in City Hall.
4. Establish a public private funding mechanism for update of the memorial documentation or display in Peace Memorial Auditorium.
5. Foster continued collaboration with County Government on consolidation of facilities like County and Municipal Court and colocation of EMS/MFD.
6. Consolidate specific functions of RCPD with County and or City – IT, HR to reduce cost.