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WEDNESDAY • MAY 11 • 2011
Administration to Arts Commission: You’re fired By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com
TOPEKA — In defiance of the Legislature, Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration Tuesday laid off the employees of the Kansas Arts Commission. Earlier in the legislative session, Brownback proposed abolishing the commission, but the Legislature rejected the move after numerous Kansans voiced opposition to the proposal in protests, calls to legislators and testimony to committees.
Stormy afternoon
High: 84
Despite that, Brownback’s secretary of the Kansas Department of Administration, Dennis Taylor, told the Arts Commission’s interim director Chris Howell on Brownback Tuesday that all five commission employees would be placed on administrative leave immediately and terminated June 10. Henry Schwaller, chairman of the
Arts Commission, said he was “very surprised” by the action. “This is a back-door move to eliminate the Arts Commission,” Schwaller said. He said the commission had funding through the end of the fiscal year. “We can’t provide services now to the 290 arts organizations and artists,” he said. In addition, Schwaller noted that the Senate had voted to reject Brownback’s executive order to abolish the commission, and House and Senate budget-writers had agreed on fund-
ing the agency at nearly $700,000 for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Brownback could have applied a line-item veto to that funding. But if he had, the Legislature then would have had the opportunity to override the veto. Brownback had proposed eliminating the commission as a costcutting move and said a private group could raise funds for the arts. On Tuesday, Sherriene JonesSontag, a spokeswoman for Brownback, said, “Gov. Brownback stands by his budget recommendation as
the best way to cause the arts to flourish privately in Kansas while saving taxpayer dollars.” Schwaller said he would continue fighting to preserve the Arts Commission and urged supporters to contact Brownback and legislators. The 2011 legislative session is expected to end this week. — Statehouse reporter Scott Rothschild can be reached at 785-423-0668.
● Legislature makes budget progress. Page 2A
Commissioners take long view on services
Low: 62
Today’s forecast, page 8A
INSIDE
KPERS plan wins approval By John Hanna Associated Press Writer
FOOD
Captains of crunch: Granola for all tastes There’s a diverse variety of granola made in the Lawrence area, so there’s a flavor and texture for everyone looking for a natural treat. Page 8B
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QUOTABLE
The single biggest issue I hear about from the public is store hours. Nobody thinks we’re open long enough. Let’s put it that way.” — Cathy Hamilton, director of Downtown Lawrence Inc. Retailers met Tuesday to discuss the possibility of staying open later at least three nights per week. Page 3A
COMING THURSDAY A KU graduate will talk about working with orphans and families in extreme poverty in Tanzania — and how the community can help.
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LAWRENCE RESIDENT JASON ANDERSON WATCHES HIS DRIVE on hole one Tuesday at Eagle Bend Golf Course. City Auditor Michael Eglinski told Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday that he found some fees where it was unclear how the fee charged by the city related to the actual costs to the city to provide the service.
City considers review of fees By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com
When it comes to city fees, they can range from the common ones like swimming pool and golf course fees to more obscure charges for horse drawn vehicles and ice cream trucks. City commissioners on Tuesday decided that they all ought to get a review — at some point. “I could see how taking a look at our costs to provide a service and the fee we charge could be pretty useful,” City Commissioner Mike Amyx said. Commissioners at their weekly meeting received a report from the city auditor that recommends the city create a policy that would guide staff members and the City Commission in setting fees. The policy would require some periodic review of fees. City Auditor Michael Eglinski said that is important because he found some fees where it was unclear how the fee charged by the city related to the actual costs to the city to provide the service. City Manager David Corliss said he supports the idea of creating a
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We feel like we have looked at the fees where most of the money is at.” — City Manager David Corliss policy to guide the city in setting fees. But he also cautioned commissioners to not expect the policy to recommend major changes in fees anytime soon, mainly because the city already has reviewed many of the major city fees. In recent years the city has increased parking fees, cemetery fees, Municipal Court fees and various changes to Parks and Recreation fees. “We feel like we have looked at the fees where most of the money is at,” Corliss said. Corliss said he’ll likely present a recommended fee policy as part of the city’s 2012 budget deliberations. But he also said it may be quite some time before city staff is able to review
every fee currently on the books. Eglinski’s report estimated that there are more than 200 separate fees charged by the city. In other city news, commissioners: ● Unanimously approved, after considerable discussion, a plan for Bert Nash to close the 600 block of Massachusetts Street for a fundraiser from 3 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 9 for a fundraiser that will feature a downtown race, music and food and drinks. ● Approved unanimously a plan to convert about half the spaces in the city parking lot in the 1000 block of Vermont Street to 10-hour metered spots to accommodate an office project by Lawrence-based Treanor Architects. But commissioners unanimously rejected a request that Treanor be allowed to purchase long-term parking passes from the city at a rate that would be fixed for the next 10 years. Instead, commissioners said the firm would be subject to the same price increases as the general public. — City reporter Chad Lawhorn can be reached at 8326362. Follow him at Twitter.com/clawhorn_ljw.
TOPEKA — A plan for eliminating a long-term shortfall facing Kansas’ public pension system won final approval Tuesday from the Legislature, even though it doesn’t accomplish many Republicans’ goal of starting a 401(k)-style retirement plan for new teachers and government workers. The legislation goes next to Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican who’s expected to sign it after describing the LEGISLATURE pension system’s problems as a pressing f inancial issue. The House approved the bill, 89-30, a day after the Senate passed it, 31-7. “This is a good compromise that puts us on the road to the fundamental reform of our state’s pension system, moving us to a sustainable and affordable new system,” Brownback said in a statement. The measure boosts the state’s annual contributions to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System starting in July 2013, phasing in a $28 million annual increase over four years. It also will require public employees to choose between paying more of their salaries toward their retirement benefits and having their future benefits cut. It establishes a commission to study whether the state should move toward a 401(k)-style plan. Supporters said the measure is an important step toward addressing the long-term funding shortfall facing retirement system. KPERS projects a gap of $7.7 billion between its anticipated revenues and benefits promised to teachers, judges, police, firefighters and other government Please see KPERS, page 2A
Kansas Athletics has recovered $340,000 in losses from ticket scam By Mark Fagan mfagan@ljworld.com
Kansas Athletics Inc. has recovered nearly $340,000 in losses from a tickets scandal that cost the department at least $2 million. Among the sources of money is a $250,000 payment received by the department in March from CNA, the insurance company that carried a policy protecting the department against property damage and theft. The department had filed its claim in October, citing Kansas University’s
internal investigation that indicated employees had stolen at least 17,000 tickets for men’s basketball, and at least 2,000 tickets for football, over a five-year period and then had sold and otherwise distributed them for personal gain, costing the department at least $1 million. A month later, a federal grand jury indicted five former department employees for conspiracy to commit wire fraud in the scam, which authorities determined had cost the department at least $2 million. The $250,000 claim was the maximum allowed
under Kansas Athletics’ insurance policy and came after another large claim for property damage that had been incurred during an earlier microburst, said Jim Marchiony, an associate athletic director. Both losses were covered under the same policy. “Fortunately we had the policy when the microburst hit, and then we again were fortunate to have it because of the theft situation,” Marchiony said. “Neither incident is something that you expect to happen, but that’s why you have insurance.” Given the two large claims during a five-year
period, Marchiony said, CNA chose not to renew its policy with Kansas Athletics. The department also has received Now the depart$64,500 from ment is Ben Kirtland. insured with Chartis for $250,000 in coverage. The department also has received $64,500 from Ben Kirtland, former associate athletic director for devel-
opment. He awaits sentencing Thursday in Wichita. The balance of the funds received so far — nearly $25, 500 — has come in through garnishments of wages from Brandon Simmons and Jason Jeffries, the first two former employees to plead guilty in the case. Each is paying restitution while on probation for their felony convictions on misprision, which is failing to notify authorities about a crime that is being committed. — Schools reporter Mark Fagan can be reached at 832-7188. Follow him at Twitter.com/MarkFaganLJW.