Structure of the Emporia Recreation Commission

Kansas State Statutes allow 3 different types of Recreation Commissions to be established:

• City Established Recreation Commissions - the taxing authority as the City
• School District Established Recreation Commissions - the taxing authority as the School District
• Jointly Established Recreation Commission - the taxing authority the City or School District, whichever has the greater taxing authority

Kansas State Statutes that govern Recreation Commissions are 12-1922 - 12-1928.

April 7, 1953: Election and resolution passed for the Joint City/School Recreation Commission in Emporia

The Emporia Recreation Commission is the only recreation commission in the state of Kansas that has a jointly established commission. Two recreation commission board members are appointed by the City Commission/City Council, two recreation commission board members are appointed by the School Board. These four members then select an At- Large member. The taxing authority is either the area within the corporate limits of the city or the area within the boundary lines of a school district, whichever has the greater tax valuation. In the case of Emporia, the School District is the taxing authority for the Emporia Recreation Commission.

Our current Board is elected as follows:

All five members of the Emporia Recreation Commission have:

• authority to vote to makes rules and create policy
• authority to approve and certify the annual budget
• authority to employ a Director to run the day-to-day operations