Area intergovernmental leaders have some common concerns when it comes to the state legislature, and bills being considered in Topeka. Manhattan/Ogden USD 383 Supt. Bob Shannon says the local district has real worries about possible impacts to its budget with proposed cut-backs. Shannon adds there’s still a lot of uncertainty, including the framework of a possible block grant system.
The amount of what would go into such block grants is also not known. As a result, Shannon says the district has an advisory committee meeting weekly to look at possible cut-backs. He and School Board President Leah Fliter also made it very clear Monday anyone can attend those meetings.
Other bills being considered involving public education deal with teacher negotiations, financial literacy, school safety plans, and parental roles in human sexuality curriculum.
A bill dealing with the timing of city and school elections has both local governmental groups concerned, with Manhattan’s Assistant City Manager Kiel Mangus sharing the city’s perspective at Monday’s intergovernmental meeting. Mangus says the city would like to keep the elections in the spring and not around a partisan general election…
Mangus also mentioned possible changes in allowing higher proof alcohol in grocery stores, which might impact cereal malt beverage fees coming back to the city. And a concealed carry change might impact Manhattan..
Mangus indicated so far only one transportation project seems to be impacted by cutbacks–dealing with the Seth Child corridor study, which has been pushed back to 2017.
While Riley County Counselor Clancy Holeman recently briefed his own governmental unit on state legislation being considered that would impact the county, he had a chance to share with other governmental leaders at a meeting Monday. Public building commissions would be impacted in a measure being considered this week. Holeman says the county has provided written testimony opposing the public building commission bill.
Another matter that he previously described as “onerous” has had some type of compromise reached,and that’s on open meetings.
There was some discussion from Riley County Commission Chair Ron Wells about the Kansas Department of Transportation, which he described as “smoke and mirrors.” He says he’s hearing a lot of uncertainty from contractors regarding possible cut-backs in projects.
Leaders from the Riley County Police Department, and Kansas State University also announced bills with possible impacts in their domains.Governmental officials from Fort Riley, the Flint Hills Task Force, and the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce were also present for the Monday meeting.
