How are your tax dollars spent? For residents in Barton County that pay taxes through shopping, property taxes, motor vehicle taxes, or any other tax, you might be surprised how your tax dollars are distributed.

Barton County Administrator Phil Hathcock presented the 2019 operating budget to Barton County Commissioners on Monday. One of his PowerPoint slides included a distribution chart of how tax dollars are dispersed. Hathcock says 26 percent or less of your tax dollars support the Barton County government.

Phil Hathcock Audio

For citizens of Great Bend, 23.5% of your taxes go to Barton County. 28.1%of the taxes go to the City of Great Bend, 24.8% to USD 428, 17.9% to Barton Community College, 4.6% to the Great Bend Recreation Commission, 0.8% to the State of Kansas, and 0.5%to the Cottonwood Extension District.

Commissioners passed the 2019 operating budget that includes a slight decrease in mill levy, now down to 43.592.