Commission opens public hearing on 2026 tax rate after Seward County notice

The Liberal City Commission opened a public hearing on the city’s intent to levy property taxes above the revenue neutral rate for 2026 after Seward County notified the city of the revenue neutral rate.

A staff member told the commission Seward County notified the city in June 2025 that the 2026 revenue neutral rate was 43.275 mills. The staff member said the city adopted Resolution No. 24-34 on July 8, 2025, indicating the city’s intent to levy a property tax in excess of the revenue neutral rate and that the county clerk was notified on July 9, 2025. The staff member said a notice of the hearing was published on Aug. 14, 2025.

The staff member reviewed recent levy history and estimates: the city’s 2025 budget included 49.473 mills; the final 2025 levy was 50.367 mills based on final valuations, producing a tax levy of $6,932,800. The 2026 budget estimate in the staff presentation used a 50.367-mill rate and an estimated levy of about $8.13 million; the staff member said the final assessed valuation published in November will determine the final numbers. The staff member said the increase in 2026 valuations over 2025 would generate additional property tax revenue and that the final assessed valuation could change the mill estimate.

The mayor declared the public hearing open and invited further staff testimony and public comment. No final levy decision was made at the meeting; the staff member said the final mill rate will be set after November valuation notices and the hearing record remains open until the commission acts.