Seward County commissioners spent a large portion of their meeting discussing a proposed 13-mill property-tax increase, public appeals to cut it and a lawyeropinion that limits the boardability to change an adopted budget before the tax notices go out.

Residents asked the board to reduce the increase, and one speaker urged commissioners to reconsider the size of the levy as they prepare the countybudget. Neil Coffey, a county resident, said: “I would like you to reconsider amending your budget and letting the county state[s] know that our budgetary requirements have been reduced,” and asked the board to consider lowering the increase to 4 mills.

The board then held an attorney-client session to review legal limits. Forrest (counsel with the firm retained for this matter) told commissioners that under Kansas law the county may amend an adopted budget in the year it takes effect only in limited circumstances. He cited KSA 79-2-2929(a) (statute governing budget amendments) and explained the practical deadlines the county clerk must meet for processing property-tax notices. He said that, outside of correcting a clerical error before Oct. 1, there is effectively no statutory path to reduce the mill levy in 2025 for the 2026 budget; general amendments required additional notice and a second public hearing that would miss statutory timelines.

Commissioners and staff discussed options for action in January 2026, when statutory timing would permit budget amendments. Several commissioners urged the public to participate in the January sessions about potential cuts and service impacts. One commissioner said the board had already reduced projected employee-benefit increases in its figures but clarified that those were adjustments to increases, not a rollback of existing benefits.

Why it matters: The mill levy determines how much property taxes residents will pay. The legal guidance the county received means any change to lower the levy will likely have to wait until early 2026, after the adopted levy is processed for tax notices.

Ending: Commissioners directed staff to prepare information for the January budget sessions and invited residents to submit specific suggestions for expenditure reductions that could be considered when the county is legally able to amend its budget.