Iola JV: Mustangs crush Viking spirit.
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THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Shortfall throws wrench in state budget By JOHN HANNA The Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas collected nearly $45 million less in taxes than expected in September, complicating the state’s budget picture five weeks before an election in which Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s fiscal policies are a major issue in legislative races. The state Department of Revenue reported Monday that tax collections were $521 million, or 7.9 percent short of the official projection of $566 million. It’s the fifth consecutive month Kansas has missed its revenue targets; the state faces at least a small shortfall in its current $15.5 billion budget and potential spending cuts for the next
fiscal year beginning in July 2017. Brownback and his top aides blame disappointing tax collections on slumps in parts of the economy that affect many states, including
agriculture and energy production. But Kansas also has struggled to meet its revenue targets and balance its budget since GOP legislators slashed personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013 at Brownback’s urg-
ing as an economic stimulus. The governor is term-limited, but his political allies face a potential backlash. Fourteen GOP conservatives lost their seats in the August primary, and Democrats hope to
cut into Republican supermajorities in both chambers in the Nov. 8 election. If they do, they and GOP moderates could form governing coalitions that attempt to roll back key Brownback tax policies. “Constituents, you know, they know our budget’s unstable,” said state Sen. Jim Denning, an Overland Park Republican who initially supported the tax cuts but has since criticized the governor. “The Brownback headwind is real.” Since the current budget year began July 1, the state’s tax collections have fallen a total of $68 million short of expectations, for a shortfall of 4.7 percent. The state now faces a shortfall in its current See REVENUES | Page A3
KanCare rally set for Thursday A public forum espousing the expansion of KanCare — the name Kansas has given the federally funded Medicaid program to cover health care costs for low-income Kansans — will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Allen County Regional Hospital. The forum is hosted by the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas, a network of health care advocates, business leaders, doctors and hosptials, social service organizations, faith-based communities and others in the state. The group’s aim is to expand KanCare to cover additional residents, providing insurance to as many as 150,000 socially distressed residents. Advocates contend the state’s resistance to expanding the program — an offshoot of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare — has cost the state as much as $1.2 billion in federal funds. “Expanding KanCare is crucial to our state’s economic future, and it would help more than 150,000 Kansans gain affordable health
coverage,” said David Jordan, executive director of the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas, which is helping organize community forums around the state. “That’s why we’re building this effort, to unite our voices and urge elected officials to act now.” Jordan is one of several expected to speak at Thursday’s forum. Others are Tony Thompson, ACRH chief executive office; David Toland, Thrive Allen County executive director, Suzan Emmons, who will speak about the consumer in the coverage gap, and Sheldon Weisgrau of the Health Reform Resource Project. Speakers contend the rejection of KanCare expansion — a decision by the governor and legislature — is costing the state jobs, economic stimulus, and acSee RALLY | Page A3
Iolan Larry Crawford shows off his V-8-powered mini tractor. REGISTER/BOB JOHNSON
Garden tractors due to duel The roar of garden tractors will fill Riverside Park Saturday afternoon. After being rained out during the Allen County Fair, the little guys will take to the arena as part of Farm-City Days, starting at 3:30. “There’ll be all sizes and shapes, from drive-off-the-
showroom-floor garden tractors to ones with engines rated at 25 horsepower that will generate from 75 to 100 horsepower on the pulling strip,” said Larry Crawford. Mini-tractors such as his will dial up horsepower measured in the hundreds. Crawford has been involved
Moran fitness center effort gets approval By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
MORAN — Moran moved a step closer to having a fitness center. Larry Manes, spokesman for a delegation of 10 advocates, asked city councilmen Monday evening if they would give an “expression of interest,” to exploring availability of equipment as well as who would be willing to help with starting up the center and looking after it once established. The answer was unanimous for the project to proceed. “We feel sufficiently encouraged to go ahead,” Manes replied. Manes reviewed what has
occurred: In the spring questionnaires were attached to utility bills and 75 residents respond-
Quote of the day Vol. 118, No. 235
ed; 65 saying they would use a fitness center once a week or more. Thrive Allen County put to-
gether a grant application for $27,870. On Aug. 11, the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City responded with an award of $25,815. Being in the city’s name, council approval to forge ahead. At the start, Allen County commissioners said they would permit use of a building that formerly housed a doctor’s clinic on Cedar Street across from City Hall. It has not been occupied for about five years and at first blush Allen County Regional Hospital officials said they anticipated no need. That changed later, with the hospital rethinking its position and that it might See MORAN | Page A3
“Forgiveness is the final form of love.” — Reinhold Niebuhr, theologian, 1892-1971 75 Cents
in the sport since the 1970s, when he built what probably was the first mini-tractor in Kansas with a V-8. It had a 318 Dodge engine, and transmission and rear end all from under one car. Since then he has upped cubic inches to a 360 See TRACTORS | Page A3
Cyclist killed EUREKA, Kan. (AP) — A bicycle rider from Australia has been killed in a Kansas crash. The Kansas Highway Patrol said a car struck the bike from behind Monday on U.S. 54 east of Eureka. The bicyclist landed in a ditch and was killed. The patrol identified the victim as 60-year-old Michael John Balfe. He was from the town of Claremont, a suburb of the Western Australian capital city of Perth. The driver of the car, Shawn P. Echols, 32, was not hurt.
Hi: 82 Lo: 63 Iola, KS