Salina Goes Above Revenue Neutral: 2027 Budget and Higher Property Tax Levy Pass 4-1

The Salina City Commission approved three separate actions Monday tied to the city’s 2027 budget process, including the annual budget, a property tax levy above the revenue-neutral rate and the city’s comprehensive fee schedule.

Two of the measures passed 4-1, with Commissioner Doug Rempp voting no. The fee schedule passed 5-0.

Property Tax Levy Above Revenue-Neutral Rate — 4-1

Commissioners first approved Resolution No. 26-8370, allowing the city to levy property taxes above the revenue-neutral rate.

The city’s 2027 revenue-neutral rate is 27.526 mills. The adopted budget uses a levy of 29.568 mills, one mill above the city’s current levy of 28.568 mills.

The resolution passed 4-1, with Rempp opposed.

Finance Director Debbie Pack said the proposed levy would generate approximately $16.88 million in property taxes.

The vote followed extensive discussion over city spending, reserves, property taxes and the Smoky Hill River Renewal Project.

Earlier in the discussion, Rempp questioned whether $5 million previously set aside for River Renewal could be moved back to the general fund.

City Manager Jacob Wood said the money has not been spent and could be returned to the general fund through a future commission decision.

2027 Annual Budget — 4-1

Commissioners then approved Ordinance No. 27-11296, adopting and appropriating the city’s 2027 annual budget.

Commissioners Trent Davis, Greg Lenkiewicz and Gary Norris and Mayor Mike Hoppock voted in favor. Rempp voted against.

The ordinance passed 4-1.

The 2027 budget includes approximately $160.96 million in expenditures, excluding transfers and cash reserves, compared with approximately $157.21 million in the adopted 2026 budget.

City staff said approximately $50 million of that total is associated with the groundwater remediation fund.

The overall 2027 budget across all funds is approximately 2.3% higher than the adopted 2026 budget.

The general fund is projected to have expenses exceed revenues by about $159,000, although city officials said actual spending typically comes in below budgeted amounts.

The budget also includes a 1.5% cost-of-living adjustment for city employees beginning Jan. 1, along with a maximum 1.5% merit increase.

2027 Comprehensive Fee Schedule — 5-0

The commission’s final action was approval of Resolution No. 27-8367, adopting the city’s 2027 comprehensive fee schedule.

That measure passed unanimously, 5-0.

The fee schedule includes increases to several city charges.

EMS fees will increase between approximately 2.94% and 11.11% to align with Medicare rates. City clerk fees will increase between 5% and 10% after seven years without increases.

Monthly sanitation service will increase to $21.75, while the drive-through recycling fee will increase to $1.75 per month.

Water and wastewater rate changes were not part of Monday’s action and are expected to come before commissioners separately.

With the three votes, the commission completed the main actions tied to adoption of Salina’s 2027 budget and related tax and fee measures.