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The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports Dec. 3
Click below:
Kansas Tax Reform Recommendations
Meeting for the Governor’s Council on Tax Reform produces recommendations
The fourth meeting of the Governor’s Council on Tax Reform concluded this afternoon. The bipartisan group is performing an in-depth study of the state’s current tax system, and today submitted an initial round of recommendations for consideration by the Kansas Legislature in the upcoming session.
“I want to thank the Council for its work in preparing thoughtful recommendations, and look forward to their continued study in 2020,” Governor Laura Kelly. “The proposals they shared today reflect my vision for a fiscally responsible, fair and sustainable tax structure that will keep the tax burden as low as possible for Kansas individuals and businesses.”
The Council recommended:
- A food sales tax rebate. The Council recommended a new Food Sales Income Tax Credit that would be refundable, have income limits based on Federal Adjusted Gross Income and be limited to taxpayers who were Kansas residents for the entire tax year. If the food sales tax rebate is fully implemented, it is estimated that over 400,000 Kansans would receive a refund.
- A return to implementation of the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund (LAVTRF) as a way to help local governments keep their property taxes low. Previously funded by 3.63% of the state sales tax, the LAVTRF has not been funded since 2003. If fully funded again, local governments would once again have a strong tool to begin lowering local property taxes.
- Implementation of a tax on out-of-state marketplace facilitators and digital products. While the Department of Revenue notice earlier this year requires out-of-state retailers to register and collect and remit use tax on sales made in the state, existing statute does not allow the state to make the same requirements of marketplace facilitators. A marketplace facilitator is a person who facilitates a sale through an internet or physical retailer. The proposal related to digital products would apply the state sales tax to all sales of digital products and subscription services, such as digital books and music.
- Caution by the Governor and the Legislature: Given the devastation prior tax policy has had on Kansas, the Council recommended the Governor and the Legislature be very cautious with proposals that diminish revenue until Kansas has fully regained its fiscal health.
- Property tax lid exemption for transportation: The Council recommended that an exemption be made to the existing property tax lid for the funding of local transportation projects. A significant portion of expenditures at the local level are for road and bridge repairs and the property tax lid has far too often been a hinderance to those needs. During the Department of Transportation’s local consult meetings across the state, a number of communities expressed the need for this exemption.
- Affirming the need to bring back the 3-legged stool: Additionally, the Council recommended the state strive to bring balance back with a 3-legged stool approach to taxes — income, property and sales. During the past few months, the Council found evidence that the state’s current tax policy has an imbalanced tax structure with income taxes and property taxes being significantly out of balance.
- Future items to consider: The Council also approved a list of items they are planning on studying and reviewing during the next calendar year. Those are: broadening the tax base, tax exemptions, review of progressivity v. regressivity within the current tax system, Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Global Intangible Low-taxed Income (GILTI), decoupling and overall property tax relief.
Over the course of its study, the Council will make additional specific statutory recommendations to state lawmakers on tax reform in Kansas. A final report is due in December 2020, in advance of the 2021 legislative session.
For more on Governor Kelly’s executive order establishing the Council, its membership and presentation materials:
FSCC Music Dept.: Handel’s Messiah Pieces
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Breakfast With Santa Dec. 7
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FSCC: Santa “Claws” Is Coming To Town
Christmas Cash For Unclaimed Property
Kansas State Treasurer launches Christmas Cash website to encourage Unclaimed Property searches
Topeka—Kansas State Treasurer Jake LaTurner today announced the beginning of their 2nd Annual Christmas Cash initiative with the launch of www.ChristmasCash.ks.gov. The website is a free search engine for Kansans to go online and find out if any of the $350-million in unclaimed property in the State treasury belongs to them. Last Christmas the website yielded over 40,000 searches and over $7-million dollars was returned to Kansans.
“We love putting this money back in people’s pockets, and what better time than Christmas for us to connect Kansans with a little extra cash,” said LaTurner. “Even if you’ve searched for yourself before and found nothing, search again. We get new property all the time, and would be thrilled to make the holidays a little brighter for you or someone you know.”
All searches on ChristmasCash.ks.gov are free and can be done for individuals and businesses. The State Treasurer’s office warns individuals to beware of anyone asking for a finder’s fee to return unclaimed property. Those types of solicitations are fraudulent and do not originate from the State Treasurer’s Office.
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CASA Fundraiser: Advocating For Children
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Fort Candlelight Tour: FSHS Drama Dept. Included
Only a few days until the 38th Annual Candlelight Tour
Fort Scott Kan. – A few tickets still remain to participate in Fort Scott National Historic Site’s 38th Annual Candlelight Tour. Later tour tickets are still available by calling the Fort at 620-223-0310 (with a major credit card) or by stopping by the Visitor Center on Old Fort Blvd.
Tours on December 6 will begin at 6:30 pm and leave every 15 minutes until 9 pm.
On Saturday, December 7, the tours will start at 5 pm with the final tour leaving at 8:45 pm.
Please arrive 10 minutes early to allow time to park, present/pick up your ticket, and get oriented.
Tickets are $8.00 per person and non-refundable, children 5 and under are free. Participants are advised to please dress for the weather and the terrain, as they will be outside and on sidewalks.
1,000 candle lanterns illuminate the site and 100 reenactors (including you) bring the fort to life. “This year’s tour will include the audience in the tour stops. It will feature six stops around the site beginning with the enlistment and ending with reassignment of release from service,” said Betty Boyko, Superintendent, Fort Scott National Historic Site. “We encourage everyone to dress up (in modern or period clothes) and step back in time.” Take the tour under the identity of one of our own Fort Scott soldiers. Enlist in the U.S. Army stationed at the Fort; learn about life on the frontier; the ups and downs of payday; celebrate the holidays 1840’s style; find out how much the officer’s wives appreciate all of your hard work; and after an memorable career, receive your discharge or reassignment stamp. Keep your enlistment card to remember your journey through time.
“Our fourth scene was written and will be presented by the Fort Scott High School drama students,” Carl Brenner, Park Ranger noted in a separate press release.
-NPS-
Fort Scott was an active military post from 1842-1853, which was a time of rapid growth and change in the country. As Fort Scott was being built, the nation grew west, expanding all the way to the Pacific Ocean. With this growth, Fort Scott changed, the mission of its soldiers changed, their experience changed, the environment changed, and the nation changed. Soldiers at Fort Scott lived their lives to the fullest despite the constant change.
Obituary of Jack Avery Young
Jack Avery “Babe” Young, age 90, a resident of Leawood, Kansas, passed away Sunday, December 1, 2019, at the Glenwood Village in Overland Park, Kansas.
He was born January 17, 1929, in Ft. Scott, Kansas, the son of Jack Young and Geneva Wollard Young. He graduated from the Ft. Scott High School with the Class of 1945.
From an early age, Babe showed an interest in music. He played the clarinet and saxophone in the school band and often performed in a jazz band for area dances.
He served with the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. While in the Army, Babe was a member of the Signal Corps and also performed in army bands.
He married Marilyn Phillips in July of 1954, at Ft. Scott. Babe and Marilyn later relocated to the Kansas City area where he was employed for many years for Bendix Corp.
Following his retirement, his loved of performing was rekindled and he and some friends formed a jazz band which played for various occasions in the Kansas City area.
In addition to playing music, Babe enjoyed hunting and fishing as well as reading Old West magazines.
Survivors include his wife, Marilyn; his son, John Young and wife, Jeri, of Garland, Texas and a granddaughter, Lauren Minyard and husband, Kyle, of Lebanon, Oklahoma. A great-grandchild is expected in March.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Donald Young and a sister, Wilma Neaderhiser.
Graveside services will be held at 1:30 P.M. Friday, December 6th at the U. S. National Cemetery in Ft. Scott, Kansas. Military honors will be conducted at the cemetery.
Family and friends may meet at the Cheney Witt Chapel prior to leaving for the cemetery at 1:15 P.M. on Friday.
Memorials are suggested to the Disabled American Veterans and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Businesses, Colleges, Assisted Living Centers: Mobile Driver’s License Office Service
Division of Vehicles makes Mobile Driver’s License Office available across the state
Topeka – The Kansas Department of Revenue’s Division of Vehicles launched its state-wide mobile driver’s license office as another avenue of convenience and added service for large groups needing to obtain a driver’s license or identification card. When a visit is set up with the mobile unit coordinator, a link is made available to individuals to schedule their visit.
“The mobile unit is for locations like businesses, assisted living facilities, colleges, and universities,” David Harper, Director of the Division of Vehicles said. “This is another way we are cutting back on wait lines and the anticipated rush of people coming into the offices as we get closer to the Real ID implementation deadline.”
Real ID is a set of federal guidelines for traveling on commercial airlines or entering federal facilities where identification is currently necessary. If choosing to be Real ID compliant, the deadline is October 1, 2020.
The Division of Vehicles stepped up its efforts in offering mobile driver’s license office solutions this past spring with two pilot programs. One, to help Sedgewick County Correctional inmates, who were transitioning out of the correctional facility, get state identification cards. The other was for students completing driver’s education in the Blue Valley School District in Johnson County to get their learner’s permit.
“The feedback we received from those pilot programs helped us test the idea and now launch the mobile driver’s license office,” Harper said.
Employers or organizations wanting to host the mobile driver’s license office are encouraged to contact Ethan Davis, Mobile Driver’s License Office coordinator, at [email protected].
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