[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6132721,"mediaKeyId","5719783-6776e47b92d8983da7eefde691fb56a1","parentId",5719783,"title","Resident asks city to fund sensory swim hour for autistic children; staff to review request","audioSeconds",177,"startMs",3795000,"endMs",3972000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5719783-6776e47b92d8983da7eefde691fb56a1&start=3795&end=3972","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5719783-6776e47b92d8983da7eefde691fb56a1/thumbnail_3795000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6132721/Lenexa/Johnson-County/Kansas/Resident-asks-city-to-fund-sensory-swim-hour-for-autistic-children-staff-to-review-request","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6132721-a2571b1961d0a4c10f51eb12d4471402/orig.mp4?Expires=1771001409&Signature=S9zaAhBQftfguqD~1Fq1VVaQZ7LmNnrLlenC58MQrF52VzKC8ErOsBsAYFnjVGN1RfzHEVgOcKnIEicD0bbq6l5gwy7SjcSLu~WZqxCZV~YqF39PBwUSKBAqcII-c112L4gD9i6rOt575kpxRns7bliBH-Y1exy6yHkoF50mizij0CNX7ChOZ2CniIeHizJH~5mJJoSuppV5bDhAk0VxvqWtcyJT-K5Npxps4iZyVAL1pgScbdulp0qApNN2mwPEPaqgaYSZPFIOSI8I~yLibyAg3yt4nRmEQynChnAFiKhJx6t8H1VifZ-RLjgJql-QzapIgpPb~vA~5qlOdOgJEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Lenexa , KS","date","2025-09-02T00:00:00Z","article","A Lenexa resident told the City Council the Lenexa Aquatic Center and a KU-affiliated sensory swim program have waiting lists and urged the city to fund a dedicated, low-stimulation swim hour for children with autism.

Nancy Schneider said the KU Sensory program’s classes fill seconds after they are posted and that her granddaughter has been unable to secure a spot for two years. Schneider asked the council to include $12,000 in the parks and recreation budget to pay for additional lifeguards and staff to run an exclusive one-hour weekly session for autistic children at one of the city pools.

Why it matters: drowning is a leading cause of death for children with autism, and families and advocates often request specialized lessons and quieter pool environments. Schneider said an exclusive hour would reduce risks and allow focused instruction.

Council response: Council members said they would need to review staffing and budget implications. City staff said they could not answer at the meeting and would follow up after researching cost and operational feasibility.

Status: Request is under review; no budget amendment or commitment was made during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lenexa City Council Meeting Sep 02, 2025 ","oneSentenceSummary","A resident asked the council to add $12,000 to the parks and recreation budget so Lenexa Aquatic Center can offer a dedicated sensory swim hour for children with autism. City staff said they would review the request and respond after the meeting.","taxTitle","Lenexa, Johnson County, Kansas","taxId",12544,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6132726,"Resident questions need for new fire station, cites training alternatives; council notes study-only status",199,3566000,3765000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5719783-6776e47b92d8983da7eefde691fb56a1&start=3566&end=3765","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5719783-6776e47b92d8983da7eefde691fb56a1/thumbnail_3566000.jpg","/articles/6132726/Lenexa/Johnson-County/Kansas/Resident-questions-need-for-new-fire-station-cites-training-alternatives-council-notes-study-only-status","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6132726-35a00fae6fec5bf623de75297cb6365b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771001409&Signature=lcLaySSLUzd2JIGoDUTvGswGIdRdU55UIv1ld3IZmh82MRmgUHjwCZnDNXnZpgG17qUrbu9mXQkyYZz9JN489mMA6ljfdM8wFDGUYDhuwBTX3faKjUnm6xUINJC8InEySYdBvOPTaX2Xci6O7MpvpqMazphyE3f3FC1Skw9F6OlnAf2DwNjis-OGpCNi1drV0HWKQsC2CZkflV~ZqmeRSirPhd~bZy8kFclX6RSAfKRRoufVnIDoFPNPpwAQ9UCrEEvp~26MIb1JNPBteWT0H5nu5rJYaOljY08wPjY20eSC0TB~HyQAil7dO-DGCfhcDUGSnajTvS0tgaLq2kYsVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Lenexa resident asked the City Council why the city is studying a large new fire station for northeast Lenexa and urged officials to explore shared training with neighboring departments instead of building a state-of-the-art facility.

Gaylene Van Horn, a longtime northeast Lenexa resident, told the council the proposal for a multi-bay station with live-fire training capabilities appeared to duplicate existing regional resources. Van Horn noted the Gleeson Station houses cross-staffed apparatus, a brush truck and a water-rescue boat and said the Olathe Fire Academy, which opened in 2021, already provides “Class A live fire burn rooms” used by Olathe and neighboring districts.

Why it matters: capital facility projects and live-fire training facilities can carry high construction and operating costs. Van Horn asked whether the city had explored co-operation with neighboring agencies to reduce cost and duplication.

What the council said: Mayor Julie Sayers and staff responded that the proposed fire station itself was not included in the FY2026 budget and that the public would receive additional information; staff previously had said the fire station study would cost about $400,000 and would analyze needs and site planning. The mayor indicated staff had answered follow-up questions by email.

Next steps: No formal council action on building a station was taken during the meeting. The matter remains in the discussion and planning phase; the transcript shows the city will provide additional information in response to the public’s questions.","A resident asked why Lenexa is planning a large new fire station and live-fire training capability; the council clarified the fire station itself is not included in the 2026 budget and noted a station study is under consideration.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6132731,"Lenexa adopts $260.6 million 2026 budget, approves 26.209 mill levy above revenue-neutral rate",4090,567000,4657000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5719783-6776e47b92d8983da7eefde691fb56a1&start=567&end=4657","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5719783-6776e47b92d8983da7eefde691fb56a1/thumbnail_567000.jpg","/articles/6132731/Lenexa/Johnson-County/Kansas/Lenexa-adopts-2606-million-2026-budget-approves-26209-mill-levy-above-revenue-neutral-rate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6132731-388db5db64eacb01a6a47f3a32b5bdb7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771001410&Signature=INFFp9VGrxjN3KT283jGw4bqcwG5fRNNGsiX7rKs5SpchEZCu8gW7z5QwllZzjyphymnjb6SxaLLoXVQPjtPiuFaNN8rUvpHtjIfZwPG7ZiJXloKtxtQEBYXlzktqhlPpY52MpAOpDNe9l8gn5i1rebyRYgN0NsL8QtfYXTnxq46YShIhbJDI2EovF0yJo9rP-k4hfyh9iSEL2tkywIckXNrGIhlqmSJuims7BOtS1xNoW5JTINqEGySl2QxRJw8vmds5oxldhqpqvTrP6IRFFTeBp4zfx2apTI58YCSPennW33I8ryjPQNxZNgtDDjNCw47GKg3BLeISZiGk3YXRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lenexa City Council voted unanimously to adopt the fiscal year 2026 budget and to levy a property tax rate of 26.209 mills, exceeding the revenue-neutral rate of 25.142 mills.

City Manager Becky Yocom and Finance Director Nate Bloom presented the recommended budget during the council’s September public hearings, characterizing it as “foundational” to ongoing city services and the result of months of work by staff and departments. Bloom said the city’s total recommended budget is $260,600,000 and that operational expenditures, excluding economic-development pass-through funds and reserves, are under $150,000,000.

Why it matters: the budget sets the city’s spending and tax rate for the coming year and affects homeowners’ property tax bills. Council members and residents pressed officials on whether the city could hold the tax rate steady and on protections for seniors on fixed incomes.

Key details: Yocom and Bloom told the council the city’s assessed valuation rose to $1,950,000,000 from $1,820,000,000 in 2025, with new growth accounting for roughly a third of the increase. Bloom said property taxes are estimated at about $75,000,000 (43.7% of total revenues) and sales-and-use taxes at about $72,700,000 (42.4%). The recommended budget adds 2.75 full-time-equivalent positions — new roles in parks and recreation, municipal services, the public market and community development — bringing total authorized FTEs to 569.15.

Bloom and Yocom explained the 26.209 mill levy reflects an additional quarter-mill rollback the council adopted during the budget process; they said the rollback was funded by ongoing 2025 savings in compensation allocations. Council members noted the city has reduced its mill levy by 5.623 mills over eight years, returning an estimated $10.6 million annually to taxpayers compared with past rates.

Public comment: More than a dozen residents spoke during the two public hearings. Several senior residents urged the council to hold the rate at the revenue-neutral level or to expand local relief programs. Gene Senesak, who identified himself as an Olathe-area resident and 2026 county commission candidate, urged officials to “look at your budgets hard” and consider reductions. Mary Abraham and other speakers described living on fixed incomes and asked the council to consider measures similar to homestead relief used in other states.

Council response and direction: Mayor Julie Sayers and multiple council members said they understand seniors’ concerns but defended the adopted budget as measured and necessary to sustain city services. Sayers said she preferred local voters and leaders making budget decisions rather than state-level limits. Several council members asked staff to research options to bolster the city’s rebate program and to provide more information about the state homestead program; staff said they would return with information.

Formal actions: the council adopted a resolution levying a property tax rate exceeding the revenue-neutral rate (motion by Bill; second by Courtney) and then adopted the FY2026 budget (motion by Craig; second by Mark). Both motions passed on unanimous roll-call votes.

Context and next steps: Bloom and Yocom noted that a large portion of the budget increase is tied to special revenue and economic-development funds that are pass-throughs by state law and not operational expenditures. The presentation also estimated the average Lenexa home value rose from $467,000 to $493,000 and projected the average homeowner’s tax impact at about $2.98 per month (about a 2.46% increase). Council members asked for a clearer “return on investment” accounting for local incentives and for staff to follow up on senior relief options.

The council closed both public hearings and adopted the budget and tax rate during the same meeting; staff said they would follow up on questions raised during public comment and by council members.","The Lenexa City Council on a unanimous vote approved the fiscal year 2026 budget totaling $260.6 million and adopted a property tax rate of 26.209 mills, exceeding the revenue-neutral rate of 25.142 mills. City officials and residents debated tax impacts on seniors and possible adjustments to local rebate and homestead programs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident asks city to fund sensory swim hour for autistic children; staff to review request

Resident questions need for new fire station, cites training alternatives; council notes study-only status

Lenexa adopts $260.6 million 2026 budget, approves 26.209 mill levy above revenue-neutral rate