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Population is decreasing steadily in Pratt County. On a graph, the last 30 years look nothing like the stock market plunge of the latter months of 2008. Instead it’s a rather gentle decline, hardly noticeable if you’ve lived your life here and don’t reflect too much on the shutdown of schools and family farms.
Still, since 1980, the county’s population has fallen from a high of about 11,000 to a low of 9,400 in 2008, the last year for which U.S. Census data is available.
Inflation of course has trended always upward on a somewhat steeper grade. The most alarming growth, however, has been in property taxes. In little more than a decade, property taxes in Pratt County have risen 275 percent, according to the Kansas Policy Institute.
And while this meteoric rise can’t be laid at the feet of any single taxing entity — all of them contribute to some degree — it’s clear that the cost of government is rapidly becoming a cost that the shrinking number of Pratt County residents cannot bear.
What to do?
Taxpayers can protest to their respective boards and commissions. They can make changes during elections. This may stem the tide some, but if other counties in Kansas — and the whole of the United States for that matter— are any example, things are unlikely to change significantly.
One solution that stands a chance of really changing things is a solution that most residents, taxpayers and voters won’t want to contemplate.
Reducing the cost of government will mean restructuring government, seeking efficiencies where services are duplicated.
Yes, consolidation. For schools, for law enforcement, for cities and the county.
No, not right now, if no one can stand the idea, but eventually it will have to happen.
It’s working in isolated corners of Kansas. Here and there experiments are going on.
We should all think about it — perhaps pursue it in a limited way at first (very soon) to find out what works and how. Our only option is to continue down a path that’s already costing us more than it should.
Population is decreasing steadily in Pratt County. On a graph, the last 30 years look nothing like the stock market plunge of the latter months of 2008. Instead it’s a rather gentle decline, hardly noticeable if you’ve lived your life here and don’t reflect too much on the shutdown of schools and family farms.
Still, since 1980, the county’s population has fallen from a high of about 11,000 to a low of 9,400 in 2008, the last year for which U.S. Census data is available.
Inflation of course has trended always upward on a somewhat steeper grade. The most alarming growth, however, has been in property taxes. In little more than a decade, property taxes in Pratt County have risen 275 percent, according to the Kansas Policy Institute.
And while this meteoric rise can’t be laid at the feet of any single taxing entity — all of them contribute to some degree — it’s clear that the cost of government is rapidly becoming a cost that the shrinking number of Pratt County residents cannot bear.
What to do?
Taxpayers can protest to their respective boards and commissions. They can make changes during elections. This may stem the tide some, but if other counties in Kansas — and the whole of the United States for that matter— are any example, things are unlikely to change significantly.
One solution that stands a chance of really changing things is a solution that most residents, taxpayers and voters won’t want to contemplate.
Reducing the cost of government will mean restructuring government, seeking efficiencies where services are duplicated.
Yes, consolidation. For schools, for law enforcement, for cities and the county.
No, not right now, if no one can stand the idea, but eventually it will have to happen.
It’s working in isolated corners of Kansas. Here and there experiments are going on.
We should all think about it — perhaps pursue it in a limited way at first (very soon) to find out what works and how. Our only option is to continue down a path that’s already costing us more than it should.
