The winners of Tuesday’s elections for city councils and school boards continue a long tradition of public service in some of the most important roles in government.
Local school boards and city councils often do not get the attention they deserve. The Hutchinson Tribune is working to change that. While regional and national media outlets won’t provide much coverage, the locally owned newspaper will.
In the combined and expanded coverage area of the century-old Clarion with the startup Hutchinson Tribune, altogether, we cover more than a dozen different local school districts and cities in Reno and Sedgwick counties.
We are truly grateful for all elected officials’ willingness to serve their communities. Volunteering one’s time and talent to a local council, board or commission is no small task. We trust each winner understands the importance of the roles they are about to play.
We encourage all elected officials, particularly those new to their roles, to embrace transparency and remember that they are now accountable to their neighbors for their decisions.
These are the closest elected officials to the people. A good representative takes care to listen to and act on behalf of all of their constituents.
These local positions make decisions with the most immediate and noticeable impact on residents. That means much more than taxes. The most important choices often relate to budgets, but the most important role of these elected officials is setting a vision for the future of the community.
Balancing fair taxes with making the necessary investments in the future is a tightrope walk. There are more wants and needs than the tax base will support, which makes having a vision and a plan even more important.
This raises the question: what are the right priorities?
Quality facilities and services cost taxpayers money, so whenever possible, it is wise to invest in things that will help grow the tax base.
Growing the tax base means more people, jobs, growth, housing, and money flowing through our local economy. The idea is to increase the value of properties and increase wages, reducing the tax burden on individual taxpayers by spreading the tax burden around.
That may or may not mean bond issues for school districts. But we need to invest in children and the people who provide for their education.
Childcare consistently rates as a top concern for young professional families in choosing where to live. Efforts by local school districts to assist with childcare and to ensure children are ready for kindergarten help secure a brighter future for them and our community.
Cities should ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place to attract new employers to the region.
A big step forward in energy has been taken, with a new Evergy facility coming online later this decade. With the right approach, this could be the beginning of a new wave of development along the K-96 corridor.
Roads remain a perennial concern for voters, but we contend that water infrastructure underneath them will be more critical for many communities going forward.
Investment is necessary in both expanding capacity and maintaining or replacing aging pipes under our streets. In some areas of the county, remediating sources of groundwater contamination and preventing future contamination are major concerns as well.
Growing the tax base will also mean investing in more housing to reverse a trend of declining population.
Reasonable efforts to incentivize new housing development, especially using state and federal funds, are wise investments. Care must be taken because too many tax incentives can bankrupt a town.
Finally, if we want more people to move to town, we need to maintain attractive communities where young families want to live.
Long-standing efforts to invest in local parks and other amenities are being supported by renewed efforts to address blight. Whether by promoting investment in historic properties or tearing down those that are too far gone, taking pride in how our community looks is vital for our future.
Here at the Hutchinson Tribune, we believe that the future of the communities we cover can be bright with good leadership.
Congratulations to the winners of Tuesday’s elections. You have important work in your future.
–The Hutchinson Tribune Editorial Board