The Sedgwick County Board of Commissioners held a staff meeting on May 14, 2024, to discuss key budgetary issues and priorities following recent budget hearings. The meeting focused on gathering feedback from commissioners regarding the budget and capital improvement projects (CIP) presented over the past two weeks.

The session began with a call for reflections on the budget hearings, where commissioners were encouraged to share their takeaways. The discussion highlighted the need for clarity on priorities, particularly in light of a projected structural imbalance of at least $5 million over the next few years. Commissioners were asked to consider their priorities for the upcoming budget and whether they felt adequately informed to make decisions.

A significant point of discussion was the anticipated property tax revenue, with estimates suggesting that one mill of property tax could yield approximately $6.6 million based on a 5% growth assumption. However, to fully address the structural imbalance, an estimated 8% growth in assessed value would be necessary, raising concerns about the feasibility of such growth.

Commissioner comments reflected a cautious approach to government expansion, with one commissioner expressing concern over the proposed addition of 67 new full-time employees (FTEs) in the decision packages, emphasizing the need to focus on efficiency rather than growth. The importance of maintaining and protecting technology resources was also underscored, with a call for careful evaluation of budgeted equipment and shared resources among departments.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on the CIP, where concerns were raised about the current structure and the possibility of separating the budget and CIP votes to allow for more focused scrutiny of specific projects. Commissioners expressed a desire for transparency and accountability in budgetary decisions moving forward.

Overall, the meeting served as a platform for commissioners to align on budget priorities and address the challenges posed by the projected structural imbalance, setting the stage for further discussions and decisions in the coming weeks.