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Commission sets preliminary mill levy at 45.022 mills and approves salary schedule additions
Summary
The commission voted to set a preliminary projected mill levy at 45.022 mills (rejecting a staff request to notify the county of intent to exceed the revenue-neutral rate) and approved a resolution amending the salary schedule to add several positions; commissioners discussed retention and pay competitiveness.
The Junction City Commission voted to set the city’s preliminary projected mill levy at 45.022 mills and declined to request the county clerk to be notified that the city intended to exceed the revenue-neutral rate. The motion to adopt 45.022 passed on a 3–2 vote.
Commissioners debated whether to notify the county of intent to exceed the revenue-neutral rate by up to three mills to preserve flexibility. Staff described the notification as a procedural option used in past years to maintain a “cushion” while finalizing uncertain budget items; several commissioners said they preferred to commit publicly to not raising taxes beyond the 45.022 number.
Separately, the commission approved a resolution amending the salary schedule to add several positions the city had approved previously: a public information officer (already in place), a grant writer and additional IT personnel, and an optional fire battalion chief position tied to the construction of a third fire station. Staff explained that updating the salary schedule allows managers to offer higher hiring ranges to be more competitive and to address retention problems in public works and parks. Commissioners and staff agreed to brief the commission on subsequent wage adjustments and recruitment steps after the salary schedule takes effect.
During the discussion commissioners noted several operational staffing shortages: public works and parks have multiple open positions (staff cited three public-works openings and others in parks/recreation), and department heads signaled intent to use the higher pay ranges to attract and retain employees. The finance director told commissioners that some insurance premium numbers and other budget items remained uncertain but that staff expected to finalize the budget before the statutory deadlines.
Motions approving the salary-schedule amendment and the mill-levy projection passed; no immediate tax increase or personnel hires beyond the added positions were enacted at the meeting.
