This week I will be in Topeka for 3 days to attend scheduled meetings with the Legislative Post Audit and the Joint Interim Committee on Tax.
As you know the Legislative Post Audit Committee provides the oversight for all the agencies within the state that receive state funding. Our committee, which consists of 5 Senators and 5 House members and represents both parties, meets monthly to review audit requests and receive completed audits.
This month we conduct an audit of the audit agency. We review their budget, expenditures, completed operations, and we currently are working on their budget for 2010. In addition we perform an annual review of the State Legislative Post Auditor, Barb Hinton.
Our main goal is to insure the agencies spend our money wisely and provide efficient service. This is a daunting task when you realize the size and number of functions that the state provides to its citizens. There is a staff of 27 auditors, last year they completed 24 performance audits, and they have a budget of about $2.5 million, which is less than two-tenths of one percent of the total state expenditures for the year.
The Joint Interim Tax Committee has an aggressive agenda as well. This committee is made up of Senators and House Members from both parties. Selection of the members is by the Leadership of both houses and is chaired by the Tax Committee Chairman from the House and The Ways and Means from the Senate. The purpose of the interim committees is to review current laws and to suggest changes for the next session.
Full hearings are held on each of our assigned topics. This week we will hear about total State General Fund (SGF) receipts, Coal bed Methane Valuation, Taxation of watercraft, Sales Tax on Telecommunications and the Slider Formula. The slider formula is the states attempt to lessen the effect of the exemption of machinery and equipment purchases made by corporations and businesses. This was a tax exemption we passed two years ago in an effort to stimulate economic development.
We should all be interested in the watercraft tax issue. Many believe we are losing revenue when our watercraft owners choose to purchase registration outside of Kansas, but still use our lakes and waterways for their recreation. Current state statute requires a watercraft registered in another state, to be registered in the state of Kansas within 60 days of arrival. There is a provision for a 30-day temporary permit.
Tax assessment on watercraft has created quite a stir and a revolt among boaters. You can go to our own Lake El Dorado, Cheney, or other large bodies that have marinas and you can see boats moored there that have Oklahoma or Missouri registration. To say we are lax on enforcement is an understatement. Marina owners should present testimony or in person to our committee on Thursday September 18th at 3:15. If you are interested give me a call and we can get you on the agenda.
The Governor has requested that there be a 2% across the board budget cut at all the agencies. This is being accomplished by not replacing staff, cutting travel, reducing capital expenditures, making use of teleconferences where possible, creative accounting and just plain old belt tightening.
Bioscience may not be the first industry you think of when you think Kansas, but we are out to change that both here at home and across the country. The reality is that Kansas’ national leadership in bioscience research and industry is growing by the day. We have researchers developing cutting edge innovations for the treatment of cancer, osteoporosis, and heart disease.
We have companies putting new bioscience products on the shelves of stores such as Wal-Mart and pharmacies and others shipping them all around the world. We have animal health companies expanding in Kansas, making us part of the largest concentration of animal-health research and industry in the world.
Tom Thornton is president and CEO of the Kansas Bioscience Authority and in a recent article in “Kansas Country Living” he provides a brief overview of our accomplishments in this area. We were one of six finalists for a $451 million federal research lab to protect America’s food supply and agriculture economy.
With our deep agricultural expertise, Kansas knows the safety and security of our national food supply is critical to public health and the stability of the economy. Kansas is the world’s leader in animal health research and development. The Kansas City Animal Health Corridor, which extends west to Manhattan, is home to more than 120 animal health companies, including 37 global leaders, which employ 13,000 animal health specialists.
Kansas State University has internationally recognized expertise in zoonotic diseases, infectious diseases, and livestock medicine. Renowned institutions such as the Biosecurity Research Institute and the National Agricultural Biosecurity Center are located here. KSU knows lab safety so well that it has developed a bio-safety training program that is sure to be a national asset. See, www.kansasbioauthority.org. for more information.
It is a privilege to represent you in Topeka, if you have questions or comments please contact me personally or at home 1115 Rim Rock Road, El Dorado 67042, or 316-321-2087. My e-mail is johng@carlisleinc.net, or grange@house.state.ks.us. For past updates see www.johngrange.net. Thanks, John.
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