County Commission April 15, 2013

BOCC April 15, 2013

All present.
At the press conference Cheryl Collins announced they Riley County Historical 
Society's quarterly dinner meeting on Monday, April 29.  Reservations for the 
dinner should be in by April 22.  The program will feature stories of the girl  
of the Gumbo, Erma Sebring, newspaper columnist.  The program starts at 7:15 
and does not require reservations.

Jennifer Wilson from extension reported that the volunteer tax assistance, VITA, 
helped file  451 federal tax returns,  and 471 state returns.   The average 
income of filers was $18,000.  The IRS figures that each return filed would cost 
$200 commercially.  The value of the volunteer hours  was $90,000 done in 300 
hours of work by @12-14 volunteers.

Linda Teener updated the commission on the Collins Lane Community Garden. 
There're are 178 plots, only 10 left available..  

Chris Darrah spoke for "retailers against high commercial property tax."  The 
commission listened sympathetically but reminded everyone of the reduction of 
funds which used to be  returned to the county  by the state of Kansas.  The 
resulting shortfall is going to be felt in the property tax and this is even 
without increases in county spending.  The commission also emphasized that the 
county levy is less than that of the city or USD 383.

Julie Merklin, observer