Job Fairs, More Taxes and New Hospitals in the Northland

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A KU hospital expansion is very welcome. The opening of a new cancer center Clay county should save gas money for those patients who have to drive to Kansas.  

With the recent government layoffs in Kansas City, former federal workers should be interested in a Smithville Job Fair on April 22. Meanwhile in these trying times, sales taxes are increasing as both Liberty and Kearney voted to raise thier sales taxes. Turnout was high for local elections, at 12%, up from the usual 7%.  

The Liberty sales Taxes was a key issue in the recent Liberty elections with the sales tax passing by less than a hundred votes. Although the ballot measure may have contributed to the loss of the anti tax candidate Gieselle Fest. If there had not been a sales tax proposal on the ballot, Fest would have done better as the anti tax candidate. Voters who were against the new tax were still able to vote against it while still voting for the pro tax Greg Canuteson.

But when it comes to local government election, most voters are saying something by abstaining. In other words, they dont care, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. Its not that they are lazy, Bob, they just dont care. I know this lil rock has got a job, a house, regular trash pickup, running water and an xbox. Why do I need to vote? This lil rock is generally happy and content even in the worst of times. What I need from my local government is going great. Now if I lost one of those things then I would vote. Only people with serious problems need to vote. And vote they should. But for those of us who are content, its ok, local democracy will still be there for us when we need it. In a way, the low participation rate in local elections shows how much better local government is at managing affairs than the federal or state governments. But national politics is another matter.


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