TOPEKA, KAN. – The Kansas chapter of the grassroots group Americans for Prosperity today commends members of the Sedgwick County Commission for choosing tax relief for the people of Sedgwick County.

The commission has approved its 2010 budget, with a mill levy reduction of .549 mills, bringing the total mill levy below 30 mills. Commissioners also voted to eliminate the county’s taxpayer-funded lobbyist for 2010, which helped trim the budget to below $400 million.

“We applaud the Sedgwick County Commission for taking some responsible actions to reduce the size of government rather than relying on the taxpayers for more,” said AFP-Kansas state director Derrick Sontag. “Their actions this week show it is possible to reduce government spending while maintaining the basic services for which taxpayers pay.

“Shining the light on taxpayer-funded lobbying has been and will continue to be among our organization’s top priorities for the last two legislative sessions, and we are encouraged by the Sedgwick County Commission’s efforts to save taxpayer dollars by removing from the budget the county’s taxpayer-funded lobbyist. Taxpayers shouldn’t have to fund a lobbyist who may, in turn, be lobbying for higher taxes and more government spending for which they’ll have to pay.

“We see these actions as a true victory for fiscal responsibility, and we urge other local government entities to make the same efforts to trim their budgets where possible, rather than turning to the taxpayers for more.

“While everyone could pick apart and criticize a nearly $400 million budget, the fact that the commission chose not to increase the burden on the taxpayers of Sedgwick County during these difficult economic times is further proof that reducing government spending in a responsible manner can be done.”