OTTAWA — The state’s budget crisis will be the county’s budget crisis, said county commission chair Ed Taylor. In trying to balance the state’s books, legislators will likely cut virtually all of the money they give to counties, Taylor said. The state will likely cut the money it gives to counties to cover statewide property tax exemptions for new business equipment, he said. Taylor said it’s unlikely counties will ever see “demand transfers” which were sent to cities and counties to cut local property taxes. Cuts in the state funding could mean that counties will either have raise their taxes or cut services, he said. It will be a tough year for counties, he said. County commissioners from across the state will meet at a state county conference in Wichita to discuss the cutbacks.
