Recent data indicates job numbers are on the rise in Kansas. While overall job growth is positive for the state, 39 percent of those jobs were in the government sector, making Kansas number one in government job growth.
According to Alan Cobb the Kansas Director for Americans for prosperity “ the private sector jobs are continuing to increase, which is good news for the state, but government jobs are also on the rise”. “In fact, the state ranks first in government job growth, which is clearly cause for concern”.
Using seasonally adjusted data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Kansas added 17,200 government jobs last year. Federal government jobs are lower today than one year ago; state government jobs are slightly higher. Nearly all the growth is in local government.
Government jobs make up 19% of the total workforce in Kansas. The 50-state average is 16.1%.
Kansas’ tax revenues jumped $42.2 million above estimates in September, but sales tax receipts were below estimates and is a continuation of a troublesome trend. The Kansas Department of Revenue released the report and the total receipts were $586 million, this amount is more than the original forecast from the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group.
The corporate income tax and individual income taxes are strong but the telling story is the sales tax projection is $4million or 2.8% below the projection. There’s apparently more income, but it is being spent on non-sales tax items, maybe paying off credit card debt or home mortgages. This looks like income is up but taxable spending is slowing down.
Last year revenues were $93 million above projections, almost double this years pace.
This past August I attended a meeting with the Secretary of Correction, Roger Werholtz, and both current and former employees of the El Dorado Correctional Facility. The meeting was billed as informational and certainly we all heard a lot of talk on several issues.
The turnover rate in FY 2007 was 36% and losing experienced, trained, and stable workforce is very troubling. Secretary Werholtz identified a number of reasons that factor into this turnover rate to include the nature of the job, the working hours and conditions, pay and benefits, and the competing job market. Some people find that the work is very stressful with inherent risks to personal safety is just not what they want.
The employees stated they were concerned about their safety, working conditions, treatment by supervisors, and pay and benefit issues. Since FY 2003 there has been an average of 3.6 staff injuries per year resulting from inmate batteries. Non-injury inmate batteries average 107 per year, with 102 such incidents reported in FY 2007.
What I found interesting is that even the worst offenders if placed in segregation, may be released to communities regardless of their custody classification. We all think it is very risky to release these individuals from segregation to the community.
In 2004 the Intensive Management Unit was created to give some form of transition to general population for the inmates prior to release. Of the 180 inmates returned to the general population, 77% remain in the general population. Given the nature of the general population this would seem to be a good success rate.
Security enhancements have been added that include new surveillance cameras, four metal detectors, package scanners, stab resistant vests, ballistics vest have been ordered for transportation officers, and additional training and equipment for the special operations response team.
More discussions will be coming between the secretary and the staff, which I hope will make everyone feel better about their very important job providing for the safety of all Kansans.
The boundary issue between USD 375, Circle and USD 259 Wichita and the City of Bel Aire will be interesting to follow. When I recently spoke with the Circle Superintendent Eliese Holt, Winston Brooks, Superintendent in Wichita had not yet contacted her. It appears Bel Aire wants to build a new school; they just do not want Circle involved. The boundaries can be changed by mutual consent from the board of education or by direction from The State Board of Education.
Eliese had not a clear indication of the territory under consideration. We all saw more on TV than had been communicated between the two separate boards we will monitor this and provide updates when available.
It is important to note that any boundary change has to take into consideration as the first priority of what is best for the students. We will see.
Do you know of anyone interested in being a Legislative aide this next year? From mid January to early April legislators can have some help in form of an intern. These young people will be required to work a prescribed number of hours. Usually they must work a minimum of 12 days during the regular session and will be required to answer constituent correspondence, write a press release, track legislation and other duties as assigned. Call me if you are or you know of someone interested.
All colleges have information on how to get credit for the service and we can authorize up to $600.00 for reimbursement for gasoline expense. See www.kansashouse.org or www.kslegislature.org, and click on “Legislative Internships.” If you are not interested in working with me there are many other Senators and House members seeking help. Deadline for application is December 7th, 2007
I consider it an honor and privilege to be your Representative in Topeka and I want to know what you think. Contact me at johng@carlisleinc.net, grange@house.state.ks.us, or write me at home 1115 Rim Rock Road, El Dorado, Kansas 67042, or call 316-321-2087.
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