Editor:
On August 31, during the public hearing on the Platte County property tax levy, County Auditor Kevin Robinson walked up to the microphone and made the case that the current one-cent levy is not enough. He shared his revenue projections, reserve balances, radio contract payments and cash carryover estimates. He warned the county was heading toward “similar conditions” to the last time “the commission was forced to raise the levy.”
He did this on the day of the vote. He did so verbally and brought nothing in writing for the public to digest.
I am a curious person. I wanted to understand the numbers. So that evening I emailed him, stating:
“Kevin, can you please share more information about the data you presented this morning (during the hearing on the Platte County property tax levy)? I’d like to understand it more. Jason.”
His reply, in full, was:
“Jason, there are $4.4 million in unfunded obligations over the next four years, with operational expenses exceeding revenues to support the sheriff and prosecuting attorney. Upon your election and my re-election, I will gladly spend the time educating you, as I have done with all commissioners. Regards, Kevin.”
Read that last sentence again. The county’s auditor told a resident that the facts behind his own public testimony are only available after the election. Win and he’ll explain. Lose, and apparently you don’t need to know.
Yes, I am a candidate for Presiding Commissioner. That does not make my question a campaign question. It is a question about facts, about numbers he chose to put on the public record, at a public hearing, about the public’s tax rate, on the very day it was to be voted on. What I got back was one new figure, $4.4 million, with nothing behind it and an invitation to wait until November.
That is not how an auditor’s office is supposed to work. The auditor exists to give residents an independent, verifiable accounting of their money. If the projections he described on Aug. 31 exist and if they are accurate, they belong to the people of Platte County, not to whoever holds office in January.
I am still curious why he won’t share them. It was a simple ask.
Mr. Robinson, if you are willing to make claims at a microphone, you should be willing to share them in writing when politely asked.
So, I’ll ask again, this time in public. Please share the data and assumptions behind the projections you presented on Aug. 31 and behind the $4.4 million in unfunded obligations you cited to me.
I want to understand every perspective at play, backed by facts and so should every resident of Platte County. That should not require anyone to win an election first.
Jason Maki
Platte County
