Harvey County sets maximum 2026 levy, schedules combined revenue-neutral and budget hearing for Aug. 26

The Harvey County Board of Commissioners on July 15 approved a combined notice of a revenue neutral rate hearing and a public budget hearing and set a maximum tax levy of $19,255,616 for the 2026 budget. The combined hearing is scheduled for Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room at the Harvey County Courthouse. The county staff said the proposed tax rate is 45.339 mills, about a 1.75-mill increase from the prior year, and that the maximum levy can be lowered but not increased without republishing the notice.

County staff said the combined notice is required under state rules and referenced Kansas Senate Bill 13 as the statutory context for the revenue-neutral requirement. The staff presentation included the recommendation to approve and authorize the chair to sign the notice of revenue neutral intent and to set the maximum levy at $19,255,616.

Commissioner-level action: A commissioner moved to approve the combined notice, authorize the chair to sign the notice to the county clerk before July 20 and set the maximum tax levy at $19,255,616; another commissioner seconded the motion and commissioners voted unanimously by voice vote (“aye”). The commissioners said the adopted maximum is a ceiling and that the final adopted budget likely will set a lower levy when the budget is considered for adoption on or after the Aug. 26 hearing.

The county intends to hold the public hearing on Aug. 26 to receive public comment and then move toward formal adoption of the budget in the weeks that follow. The county clerk-provided revenue-neutral rate exceeded the recommended budget, which prompted the combined notice and hearing. No specific department-level program cuts or new spending lines were adopted at the July 15 meeting; commissioners and staff noted earlier work sessions had covered many of the budget details.