‘Going backward’: How KCK budget cuts from property tax freeze could affect local parks

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As Unified Government administrators are in a crunch to potentially cut as much as $17.4 million from its budget , Parks and Recreation leaders are bracing for significant impacts on the services they expect to be able to provide to Wyandotte County residents next year.

Kansas City, Kansas and Wyandotte County’s Parks and Recreation Department is being asked to evaluate cuts between 5% and 10% of its overall budget. That amounts to roughly $750,000 to $1.5 million, top staffers told members of the appointed parks board on Wednesday afternoon.

Services that could be impacted by budget cuts include the maintenance of Kansas City, Kansas parks, including mowing. Also some programs may be reduced or eliminated.

“We do know that generally when budget cuts come in question, parks is (an) easy department to look at as it is not always considered an essential service but a luxury,” said Shaya Lockett, assistant director of recreation. “But we do know the importance of parks in our community as they relate to health and wellness and recreational activities.”

Answering residents’ frustration with increases on their bills, commissioners two weeks ago decided to forgo any new property tax revenues based on rising appraisals. Meanwhile, city and county leaders say costs to provide the same level of service will naturally increase because of inflation and contractual obligations, among other factors.

At full strength, Lockett said the parks department is authorized to have between 95 and 100 full-time employees. Currently, she said, there are 17 unfilled full-time staff positions — a vacancy rate of about 18% — and hiring for those jobs is frozen.

Lockett said money for capital projects will also be limited, and the ability to seek any monetary grants requiring a local match will be “a challenge.”

Proposed cuts were a concern for some board members who spoke publicly Wednesday.

Jane Philbrook said great strides have been made in recent years to bring more money to a department long underfunded, saying the action by commissioners felt like “going backward.”

“I’m really frustrated with this,” said Philbrook, a former elected commissioner.

The presentation Wednesday was one early example of the expected scale-back in services across Wyandotte County.

During an interview with The Star last week, County Administrator David Johnston said every department leader within the Unified Government, including public safety, is being asked to evaluate expenses as costs are rising and less money will come in the coffers next year.

An internal analysis by the Unified Government highlighted roughly $17.4 million overall that may need to be cut. A proposed budget is to be presented to Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, commissioners for consideration Aug. 1 in order to meet a state-required deadline.

Commissioners in late June voted 9-0 to freeze the property taxes collected for the services provided by the Unified Government, including police and fire protection. The action came as residents protested increased tax bills reflective of property values, which have risen substantially in recent years.

However, property taxes for Wyandotte County residents could still rise next year depending on what other taxing authorities, such as local school districts, decide to do.