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Harvey County adopts ROZ student-loan participation; Reimer objects
Summary
By a 2-1 vote the Board adopted Resolution 2025-7 to participate in the Rural Opportunity Zone student loan repayment program for five years; the county's resolution as presented allocated $0 in matching funds and allows outside sponsors; Commissioner Becky Reimer voted against it.
The Harvey County Commission adopted Resolution 2025-7 on Feb. 18 to participate in the Kansas Rural Opportunity Zone (ROZ) student loan repayment program. The resolution, as passed, commits the county to participate for five years (an irrevocable commitment under the program) and—per the text presented—allocates $0 of county funds toward matching payments, leaving sponsorship opportunities open to other entities.
Commissioner Becky Reimer said she opposed the resolution because she believed it was unfair to offer incentives to new residents that are not offered to retain existing residents: "she will be voting against this resolution because she feels it is unfair to offer incentives to new residents that are not also offered to keep existing residents." Commissioner Terry Scott said he supported the resolution as an additional tool for employers to recruit workers. The motion to adopt Resolution 2025-7 passed 2-1 (opposed: Commissioner Becky Reimer).
County staff noted the resolution allows employers, cities or foundations to sponsor qualified applicants and that the county must submit a resolution annually to participate. The program's maximum joint repayment per qualified individual is $15,000 over five years; the county’s presented contribution for 2025 was $0, with the state matching any sponsor's contribution. County staff also provided a list of pending qualified applications that would require sponsor payments totaling $1,903 annually if the county chose to sponsor those applicants.
