Parsons selected as mayor

Vice mayor elected

Re-elected commissioners take oath of office

South Kansas business lost in weekend fire

Sidewalk improvements completed on Kansas Avenue

Commission consults policy institute on budget restructuring

Spending increases outpace inflation by 20 points, analyst says

County faces potential $4.8 million budget cut pending tax appeal ruling

Legal restrictions prevent use of landfill profits for general fund

Board debates transparency of $1.5 million tax repayment reserve

Commission pauses funding payments to local non-profits

Commissioners scrutinize 'unsustainable' employee health plan costs

Part-time commissioner benefits questioned as cost-saving measure

Commissioners weigh coalition for health insurance purchasing power

Parsons selected as mayor

LIBERAL, Kan. - The Liberal City Commission elected Jeff Parsons to serve as mayor during its reorganization meeting. Parsons was elected on a 4-0 vote with one abstention. The appointment marks a shift from the previous leadership approach, which had prioritized staff stability during the prior two-year period.

Vice mayor elected

LIBERAL, Kan. - Following the selection of the mayor, the commission elected Janeth Vazquez to the position of vice mayor. Vazquez was the sole nominee for the position and was elected on a 4-0 vote with one abstention. The new vice mayor is set to continue supporting the city's ongoing progress in the coming year.

Re-elected commissioners take oath of office

LIBERAL, Kan. - Newly re-elected Commissioners Jeff Parsons and Janeth Vazquez took the oath of office at the start of the meeting, swearing to support the Constitution and the laws of the City of Liberal. During the meeting, the board discussed the rarity of an election cycle that resulted in no changes to the commission's composition, noting that retaining the current members provides stability for ongoing city projects.

South Kansas business lost in weekend fire

LIBERAL, Kan. - City Manager Scarlette Diseker and the commission addressed a major fire that occurred Sunday night at Santa Fe Liquor on South Kansas Avenue. Diseker reported that the fire resulted in the total loss of the business structure. Emergency crews were dispatched shortly after 8 p.m., and city officials commended the fire department, police and EMS for preventing collateral damage to nearby buildings despite the intensity of the blaze. One firefighter sustained a minor injury, but no civilian injuries were reported.

Sidewalk improvements completed on Kansas Avenue

LIBERAL, Kan. - The street department was recognized for completing sidewalk repairs at the intersection of Kansas Avenue and Pancake Boulevard. City management highlighted the project as part of a broader effort to improve city beautification and walkability as defined in the comprehensive plan. Additional target areas for similar infrastructure improvements have been identified for the current year.

Commission consults policy institute on budget restructuring

LIBERAL, Kan. — Facing a challenging fiscal landscape, the Seward County Commission utilized a work session Friday to consult with a representative from the Kansas Policy Institute. Kansas Policy Institute CEO Dave Trabert, acting as an advisor, guided the commissioners through strategies to improve efficiency and reduce property taxes without sacrificing essential services. He urged the board to categorize spending into discretionary, essential and mission-critical "buckets" to identify areas for potential cuts, emphasizing that the goal is to align county operations with community affordability.

Spending increases outpace inflation by 20 points, analyst says

LIBERAL, Kan. — During his presentation, Trabert highlighted a disparity between county spending and economic indicators, noting that since 2021, Seward County's expenditures have risen by 42 percent while inflation rose 22 percent. He advised the commission to investigate why spending has nearly doubled the rate of inflation, suggesting that benchmarking against similar-sized counties could reveal inefficiencies, particularly in areas like employee benefits and general operations.

County faces potential $4.8 million budget cut pending tax appeal ruling

LIBERAL, Kan. — Commissioners discussed the possibility of a mandated $4.8 million reduction to the 2026 budget, pending a decision by the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals regarding a Revenue Neutral Rate complaint. The complaint, filed by local taxpayers David Box and Earl Watt, challenges the county's tax levy. Officials noted that if the ruling goes against the county, they may have to make significant cuts within a compressed 10-month timeframe, prompting a review of all department budgets.

Legal restrictions prevent use of landfill profits for general fund

LIBERAL, Kan. — Despite the county landfill operating as a large-scale commercial entity accepting waste from multiple states, the commission discussed their inability to use landfill profits to offset general property taxes due to state statutes. Trabert suggested that because the landfill is a unique commercial enterprise compared to other counties, the commission should consider lobbying state legislators to change the regulations, potentially unlocking revenue to relieve the burden on the general fund.

Board debates transparency of $1.5 million tax repayment reserve

LIBERAL, Kan. — A debate emerged regarding the categorization of approximately $1.5 million set aside for the Arkalon Ethanol tax repayment claim. Currently, these funds are earmarked within the general fund rather than sitting in a separate, restricted account. While Trabert argued that moving the money to a separate fund would improve transparency and clarify the true general fund balance for taxpayers, county administration warned that moving the funds now could require a complex budget amendment and republication process.

Commission pauses funding payments to local non-profits

LIBERAL, Kan. — In a move to preserve cash flow while budget uncertainties remain, the commission informally agreed to hold off on distributing scheduled funding to local non-profit organizations. The County Clerk's office reported receiving inquiries from agencies regarding their checks, but commissioners directed staff to delay payments until the board can fully review the budget and determine the financial impact of the pending tax appeal decision.

Commissioners scrutinize 'unsustainable' employee health plan costs

LIBERAL, Kan. — The commission identified employee health benefits as a primary target for cost-saving measures, describing the current "grandfathered" plan as financially unsustainable. The county currently pays approximately $2,500 per month for family coverage with low deductibles, a cost that officials during the work session suggested is significantly higher than private sector benchmarks. Commissioners discussed the difficulty of maintaining such a plan amid rising premiums and noted that moving away from the grandfathered status would allow for more flexible, albeit potentially less generous, plan options.

Part-time commissioner benefits questioned as cost-saving measure

LIBERAL, Kan. — The commission discussed the financial impact of elected officials participating in the county's health insurance plan. The discussion highlighted that if a part-time commissioner utilizes the family insurance plan, it costs taxpayers roughly $30,000 annually per commissioner. The discussion suggested that future commissions might need to reconsider this benefit as the county seeks to trim expenses from the budget.

Commissioners weigh coalition for health insurance purchasing power

LIBERAL, Kan. — To address rising insurance premiums, the commission discussed the possibility of forming an insurance purchasing coalition with other local entities, including the city of Liberal, the school district, the community college and the hospital. By pooling their employees into a single larger group, the entities hope to gain negotiating leverage to secure lower rates, though officials acknowledged the logistical challenges of aligning different organizational needs and fiscal years.

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