Augusta Messenger
Our mission is to inform the community on local issues including skyrocketing property taxes, community projects, elections, budgets, and voting of your elected officials. Also, to promote communications between elected officials and the taxpayers.
The recent study commissioned by the city has brought to light, significant concerns regarding the drainage system serving the entire north side of Augusta. The findings suggest that the current infrastructure, not only exacerbates flooding issues, but may also hinder future business develolpment and overall community growth.
Check out link: AUGUSTA FLOODING ISSUE (PLEASE READ)
Watch City Council Meetings augusta ks city council meeting - YouTube
Transparency and Accountability
Yes, these two words will be our theme for 2025! It is clear that this is the demand of most folks accross our country, state, county and local government! It was displayed in a BIG vote on November 5, 2024! Let's review the two words, transparency and accountability:
Transparency: the quality of being open to public scrutiny, the quality of being easy to perceive or detect.
Accountability: the state of being answerable for one's actionss, decisions, or products. It can be personal or public, and it can involve accepting responsibility or admitting mistakes.
The local citizens of our town deserve to have both, and at the present the feeling of neither is being represented!
VOTE MAY 6,ON BOND ELECTION
READ ALL ABOUT THE WAY YOUR MONEY WILL BE SPENT https://usd402.com/bond25
Yes, they have to be paid back to investors with interest. they will be paid back with PROPERTY TAXES THAT YOU WILL INCUR..Yes, one way or the other, you will pay these bonds with your property taxes. The higher your property value, the more money the school district will get to pay the bonds.
Since Augusta's property taxes are the highest in Butler County, your property taxes will continue to increase. How much more can you afford? When you read the facts below, the last thing we need are for these bonds to be activated at this time. Why don't the Superintendent and the School Board work to improve our students educational curriculum and teach them to read, write and improve their math skills, instead of having updated facilities?
VOTE NO ON MAY 6!
FACTS ABOUT USD 402
AUGUSTA HIGH SCHOOL RANKS 191ST OUT OF 268 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN STATE OF EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS!
$17.700 SPENT ON EACH STUDENT IN 2024 AUGUSTA IS RANKED 9TH IN TOTAL EXPENDITURES OUT OF 268 SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
ENROLLMENT IN AUGUSTA SCHOOLS HAS DECLINED 16.5% IN LAST DECADE.
LESS THAT 50% OF EXPENDITURES GO TO EDUCATING STUDENTS, STATE WIDE.
IF FEDERAL LAW IS PASSED FOR THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO BE RETURNED TO THE STATES, AUGUSTA WILL LOSE 3.7% FEDERAL DOLLARS CAUSING THE STATE, OR LOCAL LEVEL, HAVING TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE, PROBALLY REQUIRING TAX INCREASES LOCALLY?
Register to Vote in Kansas
If you have never voted, or need to re-register for some reason, go to link below to register on-line. Easy as you will ever get it.
Pass this link on and get at least 10 more people to register!
Saving our Country
Donald J. Trump is the only person that can save this country, but you will have to register and vote for him, or you haven't seen nothing yet. November 5, is the most important election in our lifetime!
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Why are Property Taxes so high in Augusta?
IN BUTLER COUNTY, AUGUSTA HAS THE HIGHEST, for example; When you enter a $400,000 home in the calculator IN BUTLER COUNTY, you will see the property taxes are $5880.00 a year, but in Augusta that $400,000 home is $7614.00 per year! That is $1734.00 more per year!!
WHY IS THIS? There are only two reasons for this, since county wide we all pay the same for county amenities, but each city is different because of CITY AND SCHOOL BUDGETS AND SPENDING! THE CITY AND USD 402 MAKE-UP 70% OF YOUR PROPERTY TAXES!!!
AUGUSTA IS OUT OF CONTROL AND MUST BE STOPPED! That's why it is so important for the citizens of Augusta to step-up and be WATCHDOGS of the City Council and USD 402! Both are out of control when it comes to spending. IT MUST BE STOPPED!
IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT AUGUSTA'S SALES TAXES ARE PLENTY HIGH~ MOST PLACES IN TOWN ARE 8.5%. 3 BUSINESSES ARE 11%
September 2023
"Shining The Light"
Previously when property valuations were increased your property taxes automatically increased-NOT ANYMORE!
In 2021, the legislature expanded Truth In Taxation for property taxes by establishing policy that local governments have to notify taxpayers and vote before they can collect a dollar more than the previous year, i.e. go above the Revenue Neutral Rate, sometimes referred to as Senate Bill (SB 13). It keeps the property taxes revenue neutral, the same as last year.
The Revenue Neutral Rate notice is a letter mailed by the County Clerk between August 20 and September 20, which includes the date, time, and location local governments will be voting on any proposed property tax increase. Property owners should show up at these meetings and be heard.
Tax Breakdown from Butler County20230907[...]
Adobe Acrobat document [433.5 KB]
Local elected officials have the power to stop these tax increases. They could freeze our taxes by simply voting to lower the mill levy by the same percentage as the property valuations increased. This is the Revenue Neutral Rate we have been talking about. This is the heart of Truth in Taxation! Do Not Be Fooled when you hear "We kept the same mlll levy, or lowered the mill levy." They still increased your taxes! The only way to keep from a tax increase is to use the Revenue Neutral Rate.
Truth to Taxation
Only works if we hold our elected officials accountable
when they ignore us and raise our taxes.
VOTE WISELY ! THERE ARE 27 BUTLER COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS WITH CONTROL OF YOUR PERSONAL FINANCE CONCERNING HOW MUCH PROPERTY TAXES YOU PAY EVERY YEAR! 7 OUT OF THE 27 DEMOSTRATED EMPATHY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, HOWEVER, 20 DID NOT! FIND SOMEONE TO REPLACE THEM. SELECT AND PROMOTE GOOD, CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES FOR THE NEXT ELECTION. IN ORDER TO SECURE AFFORDABILITY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY IN THE FUTURE YOU NEED TO VOTE AGAINST ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT INCREASE TAXES AND SPENDING
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