Topeka council debates 2026 budget shortfall, amendments and affordable-housing funding
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Sign Up Free
Summary
Staff presented a proposed 2026 budget and warned of an estimated larger shortfall in 2027; councilmembers urged earlier action on long-term fiscal choices while community groups called for dedicated annual funding for an Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
Josh Mac, division director of budget and finance (identified in the meeting as Josh Mac), presented an open-discussion briefing to the governing body on Sept. 2 about the proposed 2026 operating budget and the timeline for next steps: a public hearing next week and a tentative vote scheduled for Sept. 16.
Why it matters: City staff and councilmembers discussed a multi-year fiscal gap. The city manager and budget staff described conservative revenue estimates for 2026 and identified proposed personnel freezes and reductions that could carry into 2027. Council members warned that one-time fund transfers are not a sustainable solution for projected multi-million-dollar shortfalls.
Details presented: The city manager told the governing body that the team has identified position freezes that, if continued, would be part of savings for 2027. He listed a set of positions under consideration for reduction or freeze that the governing body previously discussed, including up to 10 police officer positions and 7 firefighter positions (one battalion chief), and noted the magnitude of the projected gap: staff earlier estimated a $17 million gap but latest numbers suggested around $15 million for 2027. The manager also noted the city could consider one-time options from internal-service funds but cautioned these are not recurring solutions.
Council response and proposed amendments: Councilmember (Dr.) Perez said he may propose an amendment to reallocate $130,000 from an enhancement line for e-ticket citation software to restore two code-compliance officer positions that had been identified for reduction, to support coordinated code inspections with the fire department. Councilwoman Karen Hiller urged more concrete planning for 2027 rather than “kicking the can,” asking staff for clearer consensus on how to address the larger shortfall.
Public comment and affordable housing advocacy: Community members addressed the governing body during the open-comment period. Steve Schiefelbein (representing Topeka JUMP, Justice Unity and Ministry Project) urged council support for adding $2 million in annual public funding to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund; he noted a review committee has begun meeting and urged the council to demonstrate consistent public funding rather than one-time uses of private or existing funds. Other public commenters asked for clearer pathways to engage with city staff and expressed frustration with perceived barriers to influence city decisions.
Next steps: Staff asked councilmembers to submit proposed budget amendments early so the administration can vet them before the Sept. 16 tentative vote. The formal public hearing on the 2026 operating budget is scheduled for the council meeting on Sept. 9, with a tentative adoption vote planned for Sept. 16.