Salina Liberty Seeks $35,000 From City in 2027 Budget

The Salina Liberty is requesting another $35,000 from the City of Salina for 2027, continuing the city’s recent financial support of the privately owned indoor football franchise.

The request is included in the city’s proposed funding for outside agencies. Salina Liberty received $35,000 in approved city funding for 2026 and is requesting the same amount for 2027, representing no increase. The money would come from the city’s General Fund rather than a dedicated tourism or economic-development fund.

City commissioners did not hold a separate vote on the Liberty request during the recent budget discussion. Instead, commissioners reached a general consensus to leave all outside-agency requests at their requested amounts as staff continues preparing the proposed 2027 budget.

That direction is not final approval. The outside-agency funding remains subject to the commission’s final budget process and adoption later this year.

The Liberty request is being considered as the city works through a projected General Fund shortfall of approximately $738,000.

That shortfall already assumes the city will maintain its current property-tax mill rate rather than move to the lower revenue-neutral rate. It also assumes employees will receive a 1.5% cost-of-living adjustment and up to a 1.5% merit increase, health-insurance premiums will rise by 5% and outside agencies will receive the full amounts they requested.

The Liberty’s $35,000 request is not an increase over the previous year and is not responsible for the city’s overall budget gap. However, it is part of the spending being considered from the General Fund while commissioners decide whether to collect additional property-tax revenue, use reserves, transfer money from other city funds or reduce proposed expenditures.