Letters: Disposing pet waste, going backwards in Kansas, wastewater bills

Disposal problem

This is a letter to those dog owners who with a smug self-righteousness use the little bag to pick up their dog’s waste when others are around, only to pitch it when “the coast is clear.”

As one who uses the metro’s parks and paths daily, I see this little scam played out time and time again, even though many of these places have trash barrels.

It would be more ecologically sound, though less civil, to leave the waste, rather than a plastic bag full of “poop.”

John Nelles

Shawnee

Backward Kansas

It seems the Kansas legislators cannot agree on how to balance that darned budget. Here is a suggestion: Close the public schools, (just imagine the savings!) and make mothers in Kansas leave the work force so they can be home for the kids.

Each mother will change her name to June and wear a lovely dress and high heels while dusting, vacuuming, doing laundry and cooking meals. Each father will change his name to Ward, arrive home at 5:30 p.m., sit down to read the newspaper and then lend his wisdom to family members needing guidance.

Kansas seems to be going back in time anyway, so why not try the “Cleaver” way of life? After all, it worked for the Beave.

Margaret Smith

Olathe

Revenue problem

The defenders of Gov. Sam Brownback’s income tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy claim that Kansas doesn’t have a tax revenue problem, Kansas has a spending problem.

As a result of the budget deficit caused by Brownback’s ill-fated plan to lower the progressive income tax to zero, the Legislature will be forced to raise regressive taxes and user fees, which will have the greatest harm to those Kansans who have the least income.

Furthermore, it’s interesting to note that those Kansans who have the least income have already achieved a zero state income tax.

In addition, the Legislature will be forced to rob the Kansas Department of Transportation and KPERS (Kansas Public Employees Retirement System) banks in order to keep the Kansas treasury solvent.

In order to slash spending, Brownback and the representatives and senators who voted for the looming fiscal disaster that caused the budget deficit should forfeit their tax-funded salaries.

Would they have a revenue problem or a spending problem?

Holly John Blythe

Shawnee

Wastewater murkiness

The Johnson County Wastewater use billing was created for equality of use and to establish a uniform billing method, to incorporate line items from the property tax bill and to generate revenue for the county to help maintain the largest local government in Kansas. Commercial and industrial properties have paid fees for wastewater disposal since 1977.

Single-family residential properties paid a capital portion/sewer tax on their property tax bills from 1977 through November 2012; and use fees since 2003. In 2003, people aware of the sewer tax thought the new usage bill was to replace the capital portion on their property tax bills.

The property owner is liable for all past due charges whether named on the bill or not. Wastewater services are not tax-deductible. Accelerating wastewater charges and increasing delinquencies and vacancies will tend to drive rents higher.

A default rate of 11,400 gallons may be assigned to the bill when an accurate, measured or calculated history is not available. The county’s revenues are primarily derived from property taxes, sales taxes and wastewater fees.

The purpose of a utility is to provide a basic and essential service for the public not to enhance the revenue, reserves and bond rating of a government entity. I wonder how much of the wastewater fees collected will be earmarked for schools, King Louie, new courthouse, etc.

In 1992, voters agreed to give Johnson County more flexibility in funding the sanitary sewer system. Transparency may seem adequate to the county over the years. However, details of a plan are not always clear until the rollout date.

Jeff Harkness

Overland Park

Cat population

The Great Plains Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has (harmless) “capture” cages for homeless cats. You pick up the cages, put them out (presumably with food) and then bring the cat and cage back to the no-kill Great Plains Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The SPCA personnel neuter it, and you can adopt it — and you can gain the trust of an abandoned pet. My rescued cat is my devoted pet.

You will know that it was not born wild if it uses a kitty litter box. For more info, check in with Great Plains SPCA. Just don’t leave the pet outside in this weather.

Bill Doty

Overland Park

Snowballing wealth

The wealthy 1 percent can no longer help staying wealthy. The return they earn from their billions of dollars keeps them among the wealthy 1 percent.

Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, the Waltons and the Kochs brothers cannot give money away or spend it fast enough to keep up with the money they earn from their wealth. People don’t make billions of dollars.

Their money makes money. It’s merely an economic fact of life.

Steve Katz

Leawood

This story was originally published March 3, 2015 at 10:03 PM with the headline "Letters: Disposing pet waste, going backwards in Kansas, wastewater bills."