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Salina commissioners tentatively back 2% COLA, hold tax rate at revenue-neutral in budget study session
Summary
City commissioners on June 23 signaled consensus on a proposed 2026 budget plan that includes a 2% cost-of-living adjustment and 2% merit pool for employees, recommends several outside-agency funding levels and opts to keep the property tax levy at the state-defined revenue-neutral rate.
Salina city commissioners on June 23 conducted an extended study-session review of the proposed 2026 budget and signaled direction on multiple key items, including personnel pay, outside-agency funding and the property tax rate. The commission agreed in principle to recommend a 2% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and a 2% maximum merit pool for city staff beginning Jan. 1, 2026, and indicated it will adopt a revenue-neutral mill levy for the coming year.
The budget presentation, led by finance and human-resources staff, walked commissioners through personnel-cost scenarios and fund-level projections. Finance director(s) and staff emphasized that a 1% COLA across all funds would increase personnel costs by roughly $361,000; a 1% merit pool would add about $143,000. Commissioners…
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