To the Editor,
I have read through the proposed Transfer Station rate increase Commissioner Beerbower is proposing, and I have several deep concerns.
To be clear: I am not against county employees receiving raises. If our workers are underpaid, we should address it. But before raising rates on citizens and businesses by roughly 25% to 34%, Bourbon County needs to do its due diligence.
I believe the county commission must answer four critical questions before taking action:
- What about internal pay equity?
Bourbon County Class B CDL employees make around $17/hour, and Class A employees make around $21/hour. Yet, this proposal jumps the Transfer Station CDL position to $27/hour. What justifies a $6/hour gap for drivers working for the same county? Fixing a wage issue in one department shouldn’t create a massive retention crisis in another. - Are we comparing apples to apples?
The proposal references private-sector hourly wages, but fails to include the total compensation package. Public jobs include KPERS retirement, health insurance, paid holidays, and vacation. Where is the total compensation comparison? Furthermore, where are the comparisons to similar, peer Kansas counties? - Have we negotiated our expenses?
We haul nearly 13,000 tons of waste annually. Bourbon County should be using that massive volume as leverage to negotiate rates. Have we approached Allen County, Arcadia, or other regional facilities to fight for a lower volume rate? We must exhaust expense reductions before demanding more revenue. - Why do the numbers not match?
The proposal explicitly calculates that an increase of $10.88 per ton is needed to cover costs. Yet, it recommends increasing rates by $12 per ton. Why is the government asking for a buffer above what its own data justifies?
We cannot ignore the ripple effect. Trash companies, contractors, roofers, and local small businesses use the Transfer Station. They cannot simply absorb a 30% spike; they will be forced to raise prices. Ultimately, the everyday citizens of Bourbon County will pay the price.
Whether the government calls it a tax increase, a fee increase, or a rate increase, it all comes out of the same pockets. The citizens and businesses of Bourbon County cannot continually be the punching bag for fee increases without the government first doing everything reasonably possible to control its own costs.
Josh Jones