Voice For Liberty

Tag: Sedgwick county government

  • Efficiencies in Sedgwick County government

    Efficiencies in Sedgwick County government

    A document that hasn’t been made public details savings achieved in Sedgwick County over a recent period of nearly three years.

    A document prepared within the Sedgwick County Division of Finance details savings of $6,308,097 over a period of almost three years, starting in November 2015. That is the month when Michael Scholes joined Sedgwick County as County Manger. His last day as manager was November 30, 2018, after being dismissed by the county commission. This document is dated August 29, 2018.

    An example of a savings is: “Eliminated 6.0 FTEs and associated funding due to the outsourcing of EMS Billing ($304,027).”

    The document contains a summary:

    • Priority 1 – Safe & Secure Communities had a total savings listed of $3,959,137, where the categories of efficiencies included technology changes, process improvements, consolidation, training, grants to offset costs, and staffing changes.
    • Priority 2 – Human Services & Cultural Experiences had a total savings listed of $1,931,447, where the categories of efficiencies included technology changes, process improvements, staffing changes, consolidation, training, and collaboration with other entities.
    • Priority 3 – Communications & Engagement had efficiencies in transparency and elections process with the purchase of new voting equipment.
    • Priority 4 – Effective Government Organization had a total savings listed of $417,513, where the categories of efficiencies included technology changes, process improvements, and staffing changes.

    To the best of my knowledge, this document has not been shared with the public, and is not found on the county’s website. I make it available here.

  • Sedgwick County income and poverty

    Sedgwick County income and poverty

    Census data show Sedgwick County continuing to fall behind the nation in two key measures.

    Data released today from the United States Census Bureau through the Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) Program shows Sedgwick County median household income continues to fall farther behind the nation.

    In 1989, median household income in Sedgwick County was greater than that for Kansas and the nation. In 2017, however, Sedgwick County has fallen behind both.

    In 1989, the all-age poverty rate in Sedgwick County was less than the national rate, but now it is higher.

    As can be seen in the nearby charts produced by the Census Bureau’s visualization tool, the trend in economic performance between Sedgwick County and the nation started diverging around the time of the last recession. As time passes, the gap between the two generally grows larger, with Sedgwick County falling farther behind.

    Courtesy U.S. Census Bureau. Click for larger.
    Courtesy U.S. Census Bureau. Click for larger.
  • Wichita employment, October 2018

    Wichita employment, October 2018

    For the Wichita metropolitan area in October 2018, jobs are up, the labor force is up, and the unemployment rate is down, compared to the same month one year ago. Seasonal data shows a slowdown in the rate of job growth.

    Data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, part of the United States Department of Labor, shows a mostly improving employment situation for the Wichita Metropolitan Statistical Area.

    Total nonfarm employment rose from 296,900 last October to 299,000 this October. That’s an increase of 2,100 jobs, or 0.7 percent. (This data is not seasonally adjusted, so month-to-month comparisons are not valid.) For the same period, jobs in the nation grew by 1.7 percent.

    The unemployment rate was 3.3 percent, down from 3.5 percent one year ago.

    Considering seasonally adjusted data from the household survey, the labor force rose by 719 persons (0.2 percent) in October 2018 from September 2018, the number of unemployed persons rose by 283 (2.7 percent), and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.5 percent. The number of employed persons not working on farms rose to 298,219 in October from 297,783 the prior month, an increase of 436 persons, or 0.1 percent.

    Click charts for larger versions.

  • WichitaLiberty.TV: Economic development incentives

    WichitaLiberty.TV: Economic development incentives

    In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: A look at some economic development incentive programs in Wichita and Kansas. Second in a series. Tax increment financing (TIF) is prominent in this episode. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 219, broadcast November 25, 2018.

    Shownotes

  • Sedgwick County jobs, second quarter 2018

    Sedgwick County jobs, second quarter 2018

    For the second quarter of 2018, the number of jobs in Sedgwick County grew slightly slower than the nation.

    Data released today from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, part of the United States Department of Labor shows an improving labor picture in Sedgwick County, growing at a rate 80 percent of the nation.

    For the second quarter of 2018 there were 12,600 establishments in Sedgwick County employing 250,800 workers. That is an increase in jobs of 1.2 percent from the same time the previous year, a proportional rate which ranked 176 among the nation’s 349 largest counties. For the same period, the national job growth rate was 1.5 percent. (Ranked by employment, Sedgwick County is the 123rd largest county.)

    These are figures from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages program.

    The average weekly wage was $882, an increase of 2.7 percent over the year, that change ranking 204 among the same 349 largest counties. The U.S. average weekly wage was $1,055, increasing by 3.4 percent over the same period.

  • WichitaLiberty.TV: Economic development incentives

    WichitaLiberty.TV: Economic development incentives

    In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: A look at some economic development incentive programs in Wichita and Kansas. First in a series. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 218, broadcast November 18, 2018.

    Shownotes

  • Personal income in Wichita rises, but slowly

    Personal income in Wichita rises, but slowly

    For 2017, personal income in Wichita rose, but slower than the national rate.

    Today Bureau of Economic Analysis, an agency of the United States Department of Commerce, released personal income figures for metropolitan areas through the complete year 2017. For the Wichita metropolitan statistical area, personal income in 2017 rose from the 2016 level in nominal dollars, and is now slightly less than the 2104 level.

    For all metropolitan areas in the United States, personal income rose by 4.5 percent. For the Wichita metro area, the increase was 2.3 percent. Of 383 metropolitan areas, Wichita’s growth rate was at position 342.

    While the Wichita area has kept up with national personal income growth and even surpassed it in some years, that is no longer the case. Wichita’s income has stalled while national income continues to grow.

    Click for larger.
    Click for larger.
  • Sedgwick County Manager epitomizes duty, honor, country

    Sedgwick County Manager epitomizes duty, honor, country

    Statement to Sedgwick County Commission
    By Karl Peterjohn

    As a Sedgwick County citizen and taxpayer, I have been distressed to see news reports about the scandals, FBI and other legal investigations, that involve this county commission. The details of this appalling topic shall remain for another day.

    Today, I am here to praise four county employees who deserve public commendation.

    On May 12, 1962, five star General-of-the-army, Douglas MacArthur, an army officer during World War I, World War II, and the Korean War, gave his famous speech to the army cadets at the West Point military academy. MacArthur, then in the twilight of his life, used the hallowed phrase, “duty, honor, country,” the motto of West Point, in speaking of the obligations that exist for army leaders; past, present, and future.

    I believe that, “Duty, honor, country,” should not be limited to only our military leaders. General MacArthur said, “… teach you … not to seek the path of comfort, but to face the stress and spur of difficulty and challenge; to learn to stand up in the storm,” and MacArthur goes on to say, “… that the very obsession of public service must be duty, honor, country.”

    General Michael Scholes epitomizes “duty, honor, country.” I repeatedly saw this demonstrated during the years that I had the privilege of working with him while serving on this commission, as well as more recently as he continues to demonstrate his personal integrity.

    While Judge Yost enjoys the same amount of military experience that I possess, and that is none, his distinguished public work, whether it was at the White House over 40 years ago, over a decade of service in both houses of the Kansas legislature including serving as a leader in the Kansas senate, and almost 20 years on the district court bench personifies, “duty, honor, country.”

    General Scholes and Judge Yost are distinguished men of achievement, who possess the diligence, competence, and most importantly, integrity, that I stand to recognize this morning.

    Last week this commission voted 3-2 in another direction. I rise today to thank both commissioners, Jim Howell and Richard Ranzau for voting against the motion to place Judge Yost on leave.

    I also want to praise commissioners Howell and Ranzau for their efforts to provide transparency in this county, as well as protecting taxpayers while providing efficient public services. Howell and Ranzau are pillars of integrity during these county commission scandals. This needs recognition, and I proudly provide as much as this citizen can do.

    These are four men — General Scholes, Judge Yost, Commissioner Howell, and Commissioner Ranzau — are personifying MacArthur’s hallowed words of, “duty, honor, country.”

    As a former Sedgwick County commissioner, I would conclude by recommending that this county commission now proceed to move to receive and file this commendation.

    For video of Peterjohn delivering these remarks at the Sedgwick County Commission meeting on November 14, 2018, click here.

  • WichitaLiberty.TV: Bob and Karl look at election results

    WichitaLiberty.TV: Bob and Karl look at election results

    In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Bob and Karl look at election results nationally, in Kansas, and in Sedgwick County. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 217, broadcast November 11, 2018.

    Shownotes