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State Rep. Mike King asks McPherson County officials about revenue, mandates and population growth
Summary
State Rep. Mike King visited the McPherson County Commission to ask how counties raise revenue, press for options to opt into or out of some state mandates, and say his top priority is growing population in House District 74; commissioners raised concerns about property taxes, KDOT funding and data‑center impacts.
State Representative Mike King, who represents House District 74, visited the McPherson County Commission to solicit input on county revenues, unfunded state mandates and population growth strategies. King asked commissioners directly, “Where do you get your source of revenues from? What are your 3‑legged stools?” and pressed for proposals counties could use to capture and deploy revenue locally.
King described three priorities he was raising with county officials: clarifying county revenue sources, reviewing state mandates that counties find burdensome, and aligning state incentives around population growth. “My number 1 priority has been and will continue to be growing the population of the state, specifically House District 74,” King said. He told commissioners he has considered legislation that would buy down one mill of the state‑level property tax using interest on state reserves; he said leadership previously blocked that effort.
Commissioners and county staff told King property tax, sales tax and local service fees are the main revenue sources. Commissioners raised concern that counties do not share directly in rising sales tax receipts the way the state does. County officials also pressed King on motor‑vehicle fees and the new allowable county treasurer charge—discussing whether an increase should be phased in and how it affects constituents.
King discussed other practical county issues such as bridge classifications and KDOT funding levels; he said KDOT carries debt and that planning for the next state highway program is beginning. On data centers, King urged local leaders to define regulation goals narrowly, warning that overly broad moratoria could capture small telecommunications facilities that are technically “data centers.”
The visit ended with King asking county leaders to submit a list of unfunded mandates for review; he said he would raise those items with colleagues in Topeka.
