Airport uses your tax dollars as a cash reserve
10:57 p.m. Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Your tax dollars help support Topeka’s two airports. A 49 News investigation found hundreds of thousands of dollars are being budgeted for economic development each year, but only a few thousand are being spent.
“It’s not extra money, it is money that it takes to operate,” said Michael Humberd, Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority president. “It’s like a checking account, you have to have money in your checking account in order to pay your household bills.”
Humberd said the money is necessary to pay big bills and other unbudgeted expenses the airports encounter.
Sam Carkhuff, Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority board chairman, said it was a tough decision for the board to raise a portion of your property taxes 30 percent to fund the cash reserve. He said he doesn’t regret it; taxes haven’t gone up in eight years.
The county also holds back money for unbudgeted expenses, but they account for the money under a miscellaneous account. Shawnee County financial administrator Marti Leisinger said county commissioners could opt to lower the amount of extra cash they keep on hand when they’re faced with raising taxes.
Comments
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Dec. 20, 2007 at 3:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)melonguy (anonymous)
I agree with most of this. The part that raises the hair on the back of my neck is the statement from politician that, "Taxes haven't gone up in eight years".
I am retired, on a fixed income, and also have a budget to contend with. I understand the political correctness to a statement like that and I understand property valuation. Each year I pay my taxes and each year my check for taxes is larger than the year before. If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck...... Maybe a different phrase would be better suited when trying to spend other peoples money. Amen
Dec. 20, 2007 at 7:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)bobgick (anonymous)
Why don't the voters/taxpayers have any say in the matter. I get $910. a month and am making house payments, 'Don't need no stinkin airport'.
Jan. 16, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)Airportupdates (anonymous)
Should not the funds be used for the development of the infrastructure, busineses who lease facilities from MTAA? I personally know of a business who could use a facelift. In Salina Ks the MTAA CHAMBER AND BUSINESS OWNERS come together and are expanding. There is actually more expansion in Salina Ks. Airport than Topeka KS. It appears Topeka MTAA would prefer to draw interest off of Tax Payers dollars, than to invest in there Infrastucture. I would say they are "slum lords" who need to step up and do the right thing. Thanks for keeping us informed KTKA NEWS
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