The citizens of Junction City and Geary county Kansas have watched the city debt rise to over 200 million dollars in a city of about 25,000 residents. Since 2005 when Fort Riley announced that the 1st Infantry Division was to return this debt has been an issue with the city government. Poor planning and lack of experience are outlined in the BKD report that can be viewed on the city's website in the document area. This caused the city commission to annex 1400 acres and start over 50 subdivisions most paid by general obligation bonds putting the city in massive debt with the expectation of a boom in housing. In addition, the city's State Representative convinced the Kansas Legislature to increase the city's debt limit from 30% to 40% based on these expectations of soldiers buying homes in the city. This did not materialize as expected. The city has gone to the State and gotten an extension until 2017 to bring their debt down to the maximum 30% allowed by law. This has brought much higher fees and taxes to the residents of Junction City.This year the present city commission has decided to start annexing by force (unilateral annexation) property in the county near or joining the city border to bring more tax money and property value to the city without consideration of the impact on the affected residents, only city cost. As voiced by the planning committe, they do not intend to provide city services to these areas for some time. The way the law is written, it may be as long as three years for any services they agree to provide maybe longer for the ones they don't. It is the undersigned that petition the couny commission and couny attorney to do all that is possible to protect the county residents from the city's intent to force annexation and burden these residents with high taxes and fees. We are against these actions as the county residents had no voice in the adoption of the city's debt and do not wish to be held libel for said debt. The following are items we believe need to be implemented to ensure a fair and proper growth of the areas involved. 1.Annex by petition only on property outside city limit unless K.S.A. 12-521 is followed to inure a fair judgement on annexations. 2.Build out most empty lots and subdivisions now in the city. 3.Pay down debt below 30%. 35 of 48 mils go to debt payment now. 4. No forced annexation without full city services and improvements to be provided within statutory time limits. City as well as county residents need to know this is a waste of city taxpayers money. The State annexation laws were written with the intention to ensure proper growth of cities, not to enrich them and only burden the affected residents when they go in debt through the improper actions this city's government chose to engage.

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