Sedgwick County commissioners will voice opposition to a bill in the Kansas Legislature that requires counties to reimburse property taxes to businesses that have to close or limit capacity for regulatory reasons.

House Bill 2142 would apply not just to shutdowns related to the coronavirus pandemic, but it would also apply to other regulatory issues.   Sedgwick County Counselor Mike Pepoon said the county regulates businesses for a variety of reasons and he called the bill “an attempt to thwart our ability to regulate.”    Pepoon said he doesn’t believe the bill will advance in its current form, but other bills could be submitted later that would have an adverse effect on the county.

A House committee plans a hearing on the bill Tuesday.

Sedgwick County Manager Tom Stolz said the bill would be a $25 to $50 million hit on the general fund, and it would lead to layoffs of county employees and reductions in services, or the county would have to raise taxes.   County Commissioner Jim Howell said the money has already been spent in providing services to the county, and the money does not exist.    The county’s Chief Financial Officer, Lindsay Poe-Rousseau, told commissioners that the bill would potentially force a 30 percent reduction across the board in order to make the reimbursements, and it’s simply not workable.

Commissioners had a special meeting Monday to look over and approve testimony that would be submitted to the House in opposition to the bill.