The Unified Government Board of Commissioners is set to consider another hot-button topic this Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m — property taxes.
Revenue Neutral
Just two weeks after a nearly six-hour meeting resulted in approval of zoning changes for a proposed data center, the commission will vote on whether to hold property tax revenue constant for the coming budget year, the “revenue neutral” vote required annually by state law.
Taxpayer groups will make their best case during public comments tomorrow for holding the line at the revenue neutral rate. However, public health and neighborhood groups are making a push for increased spending and added services that will require new revenue. Both sides are expected to make heavy use of the public comment period with written and in-person comments.
The draft resolution on the commission’s agenda calls for exceeding the revenue neutral tax rate, and the resolution is recommended for approval by UG administrator David Johnston.
Yet last year, a similar proposal was voted down. Rapidly increasing property values in the preceding years had left many homeowners with high tax bills and high dissatisfaction, and a large contingent testified before the commission about the increasing burden. In July 2024, the commission voted 9-0 to remain revenue neutral, including all the current commissioners except Mike Kane (District 5), who was absent.
As expected, the freeze on property tax revenue caused a ripple effect on spending. Wage increase commitments and inflation in non-labor costs meant that cuts had to be made in other areas. Services and staff overtime were cut, maintenance was pushed out, and new hiring was delayed except in the public safety departments.
With wages and costs even higher now than 2024, maintaining revenue neutral would require even more adjustments. A presentation by UG budget analysts on June 12 concluded that a revenue-neutral budget for next year would force cuts of up to 80 jobs and prevent cost-of-living increases for non-union employees.
If the commission votes to exceed the revenue neutral rate, the mill levy rate that the commission will propose for the upcoming year will still need to be determined. Advocates will be pressing the commission hard to raise or lower that rate.
Under state law, voting to exceed the revenue neutral rate will require the commission to give public notice and then hold a public hearing on the new proposed rate between Aug. 20 and Sept. 20.
Other business
In other business, the commission will consider new land bank transfers and will remove deprecated provisions of the county code that relate to concealed weapons.
On a lighter note, Mayor Tyrone Garner will proclaim Thursday “Home of the BBQ Trail Day,” and give his Dotte Proud recognition in honor of the many excellent barbecue establishments in the Wyandotte County area. That includes the nationally renowned Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, founded in the Rosedale area in 1997.
There will also be a special commission meeting starting at 5:00 p.m. Except for brief opening and closing periods, that meeting will be a private “executive session” for the commission to discuss personnel matters.