NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Administrator Randy Partington offered his governing body some options regarding their 2023 budget, one was keeping the mill levy flat and the other was making cuts to get to the revenue neutral rate. Regardless of their decision, Partington knows costs are going up.
"Everything that we buy goes up with inflation, like for everyone else," Partington said. "We have to keep paying more. If we bring in less money, we have to cut services if we always stay at the revenue neutral rate."
Partington doesn't see any easy cuts available.
"Right now, Reno County's very well run, all the departments," Partington said. "I don't know that there's any real excess. There may be a couple line items here and there that may be over, just to help protect the budget. Staffing, we're not overstaffed on any department that I've witnessed. A lot of the cuts that the county commission will probably be needing to look at, if they want to get close to the revenue neutral rate, really are one-time cuts."
Partington notes that with increasing costs, delaying and deferring actions that will be needed soon anyway may not be the most responsible course of action.
"The costs will probably go up," Partington said. "Most vehicles or other construction work, remodeling or maintenance of buildings, everything's cost goes up. If we defer expenses that we know are planning for next year, but then have to wait for 2024, it's likely going to cost us more money in the long run."
The Reno County Commission will have its next meeting July 19.