Turnpike Tax

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius last week proposed raising tolls on the Kansas Turnpike to pay for $600 million in deferred maintenance at K-State and other Kansas Board of Regents schools.

Speaker of the Kansas House Melvin Neufeld countered by suggesting perhaps property taxes should be raised in the university towns to cover those costs. When I read Speaker Neufeld's retort to the governor, I laughed out loud.

Last summer the speaker and many other Republican leaders spent an inordinate amount of time here in Manhattan supporting Republican candidates for the Kansas House. I happened to be one of those seeking office along with Mr. Dick Miller.

During one of his many visits, the Speaker called and asked me to attend a joint House/Senate committee meeting dealing with the maintenance issue. The two of us had breakfast at Early Edition and talked about ways to tackle the problem from bonded debt to new revenue generation. Afterwards, we joined the committee of ten or so legislators at the Grain Science complex for a presentation by university officials regarding almost $250 million in deferred maintenance at K-State alone.

So why did I chuckle at the Speaker's property tax proposal?

Well, you have to know my friend Melvin. He's one of those rock-solid west Kansas farm boys with an engaging smile, quick wit, competitive spirit and sense for the moment. You'd love him as an uncle - someone to confide in.

Here's what I think he was saying, "Hey, Manhattan, Lawrence and Wichita, if you want to constantly send Democrats to the Legislature don't look for Republicans to solve your problems." Serious or not, this was his first opportunity to return the favor.

In my view neither idea is very good. Kansas could, however, turn I-70 from Topeka to Colorado into a toll road, like the rest of the state. Put the tax dollars saved there into the university system and perhaps even cut property taxes. The result would be superb roads and well-maintained university buildings. We talked about that option too.

First published in the Manhattan Free Press, February 7, 2007.