Since 1989, Kansas Inc. has prepared an annual update detailing overall county economic vitality and distress in Kansas. Data from several economic indicators are collected on a county level and then combined into a statistical formula to produce an overall assessment score. The results from 2006 follow.
The top ten economic vibrant counties included in order: Johnson, Pottawatomie, Chase, Coffey, Miami, McPherson, Gray, Douglas, tied at 9 were Hamilton and Haskell. The most represented area was the East and north east, with the 3 western counties coming in mostly due to overall ratings that rely on percentage changes in certain variables, which may overemphasize small numerical changes in less populated counties.
Butler County ranked 17th, Elk came in last place, Woodson was 101, Greenwood was 79, and Cowley was 88th. We are located in the South Central Business/Economic Development Region. The state per capita personal income was $32,866. The range was Lincoln at $21,954.00 and the high average was Johnson at $48,123.00.
Per capita property valuation is a measure of fixed investments or assets that exist within a county, divided by the population. During 2006, the average per capita property valuation for Kansas was $10,461. Per capita property valuation ranged from $5,366 (Labette, Parsons) to $78,289 (Stevens, Hugoton).
During 2006, 1.78 percent of Kansans received assistance from Temporary Assistance for Families or General Assistance. Wyandotte County had 4.07 percent of its population on this assistance. The US Census Bureau estimated the 2006 Kansas population at 2.76 million, a 5.72 percent increase over 1996.
A new report from the nation’s leading cancer organizations show cancer death rates decreased on average 2.1 percent from 2002 through 2004, nearly twice the annual decrease per year from 1993 through 2002. In July, Illinois became the 6th state in 2007 to pass a smoke-free law that protects the public and workers from the illnesses caused by secondhand smoke. Altogether, 22 states have passed smoke-free public policies that include restaurants and bars. The Illinois law also includes casinos.
The federal government regulates most every product you can name, from infant car seats and prescription drugs to spinach, meat, pet food and breakfast cereal. But cigarettes; so deadly they kill 400,000 Americans each year get a pass. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has no authority to regulate them.
I am quite sure the legislature will see some type of smoking ban legislation. In the past we let the individual business operators decide what they will or will not allow in their establishments. Do we really want the government telling us what we can and cannot do? This smoking issue is highly charged and has almost no middle ground. Should this be a statewide or local issue?
In the past when the state increased the excise tax on a pack of cigarettes, they maintained their level of tax revenue, however some distributors saw a 70% reduction in their sales. What does this mean? Citizens were smoking less, perhaps, but I would rather believe they found another source from which to purchase their cigarettes.
It is no secret the tour busses and cars heading to border state casinos are bringing in the smokes tax-free.
Maybe we should post tax collectors at our state border crossings to collect our fair share. Some restaurant business owners may privatize their clubs to exclude general public admittance and then cater to the smoking crowd.
Butler Community College President, Dr. Jackie Vietti has recently been appointed to the Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board by the Governor. Dr. Vietti will be part of the group helping select the best facility plan for casino developments within our state.
The Wichita School District still has its eye on some land that is currently in USD 375 Circle District. Both sides have been talking and progress is practically impossible to measure. I still think this is all about grabbing land under the guise of technical school development, while stripping Circle of some future prime development land.
If the two school boards cannot come to an agreement, the next step rests with the State Board of Education and mitigation. I will keep you posted.
An editorial comment in Science Magazine, (Vol) 4 (8) February 2001 commented on the benefits of CO2. The article states, “there is another side of the CO2 emissions issue that is almost never discussed, yet could hold the answer to meeting food production needs until population levels stabilize. Carbon Dioxide is a determining factor to plant growth throughout the world. The addition of this gas to any environment causes plants to grow faster and more robust, increasing both their productivity and growth”.
“Scientists have found that crop production is increased by about 50 percent with a doubling of CO2, (which is the assumption that climate change is based upon). More importantly, CO2 enhancement dramatically improves crop tolerance to stress such as droughts, and pollution, permitting much greater crop production compared to normal levels of CO2. If global CO2 does increase, crops will grow even faster and healthier.”
I consider it an honor and privilege to be your representative in Topeka and I want to know what you think. You may contact me in person, or at home 1115 Rim Rock Road, El Dorado 67042 316-321-2087, or the internet at johng@carlisleinc.net, grange@house.state.ks.us, www.johngrange.net. Thanks again, John.
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