Platte County Commissioners approved the county’s 2022 budget this week, with boosted funding for law enforcement.
A public hearing was held Monday, Jan. 3 at the Platte County Resource Center in Kansas City. During his budget presentation, county auditor Kevin Robinson asked commissioners to reconsider a few changes they made to his proposed budget, which was released in November.
The allocation to the Platte County Economic Development Council was cut from the auditor’s proposed $60,000 to $10,000.
The juvenile justice department’s request for a new vehicle was cut by commissioners, as was a vehicle request from the planning and zoning department.
Presiding commissioner Ron Schieber said commissioners had previously spoken to the EDC about reductions to county funding as the organization attempted to grow other sources of revenue, such as private memberships. Some changeover has occurred at the EDC and the agreement for reduced funding had been made with the previous executive director. Schieber said new talks may be on the horizon with the newly-appointed director, but for now the commission planned to let the reduced funding stand.
He said both the juvenile office and planning and zoning offices had operational vehicles and suggested those vehicles be repaired.
Robinson also noted additions made to the budgets of the county prosecutor’s office and the sheriff’s office, although he agreed to the commission’s increases to payroll for those offices.
Scott Fricker, who has announced his run for presiding commissioner this year, spoke at the meeting in support of the funding increase for local law enforcement. His was the sole public comment on the budget.
Robinson also asked the commission re-instate the allocation for the Zona Rosa bond payment, which is a long-running situation involving the county’s involvement in construction of a parking garage at the Kansas City shopping district more than a decade ago.
Schieber said Zona Rosa sales tax funding is about $1.5 million short, but as the court has found that the county is not legally responsible for covering that shortfall, the county would not appropriate the payment.
Robinson noted he is legally required to make the request as the county’s fiscal officer.
The county’s bond ratings continue to suffer due to the years-long legal battle between Zona Rosa and the county.
There was also a brief discussion about an increase to recording fees, as the new construction market has began to cool again after a short surge.
Commissioners approved the budget with little additional discussion.