Salina Commission to Consider Property Tax Ceiling Above Revenue-Neutral Rate At Monday Meeting

The Salina City Commission on Monday will consider publishing notice of a Sept. 14 public hearing on a proposed 2027 city budget that would exceed the state-defined revenue-neutral rate.

The notice would set a maximum city property tax levy of $16,880,634 and an estimated rate of 29.568 mills. That rate would be one mill above the current 28.568-mill city levy and 2.042 mills above the calculated 2027 revenue-neutral rate of 27.526 mills.

Under the proposal, $13,508,159 of property tax revenue would go to the general fund and $3,372,476 to the bond and interest fund. The city’s estimated budgetary assessed valuation is $570.9 million, up 4.23% from the prior year, including $11.5 million in new improvements.

The proposed general fund budget includes $60.1 million in revenue and $59.9 million in expenditures. Water and wastewater expenditures are budgeted at nearly $29.7 million, while sales tax capital expenditures are proposed at $13.3 million.

Commissioners directed staff during a July 13 study session to prepare the budget using the one-mill increase. Monday’s action would not adopt the budget or final tax rate; it would authorize publication and establish ceilings that could later be reduced but not increased.

Staff recommends scheduling the combined revenue-neutral-rate and budget hearing for 4 p.m. Sept. 14 at the City-County Building, 300 W. Ash St. The adopted budget is due to the county clerk before Oct. 1.

Source: City of Salina meeting agenda and staff reports