The Topeka governing body Wednesday set public hearings required by state law for both the Topeka Metro Transit Authority and the City’s 2026 budget and took a separate step to limit the city’s advertised maximum mill levy.

Josh MacInarney, Division Director of Budget and Finance, told the council that the Metro’s revenue‑neutral rate is 3.999 mills and staff’s resolution would allow a maximum of 4.2 mills and set a public hearing for Aug. 26. The governing body approved that resolution for the transit authority (action item F) by voice vote; the motion carried with nine yes votes.

For the city budget (action item G), staff proposed a maximum mill rate of 37.956 mills to preserve options during the budget process. City Manager Robert M. Perez said the budget staff is developing a proposal that assumes the current mill rate without any increase but noted the resolution preserves an option if the body later chooses to consider a change. Perez said, “I’m never gonna vote to raise the mill levy and I’m not gonna do it this year,” and explained the county’s required notices and public‑hearing steps can create public confusion if the advertised maximum differs from the council’s eventual choice.

Councilmember Jackson moved to amend the proposed maximum mill levy to the current 2025 mill rate of 36.956 to avoid public confusion; the amendment passed (eight yes votes, Councilman Miller voted no). After the amendment, the governing body approved the resolution to notify the county and to set the public hearing for Aug. 26; a roll‑call vote recorded nine yes votes and the motion carried.

Why it matters: state law requires jurisdictions that may adopt a budget exceeding the revenue‑neutral rate to notify the county and hold a public hearing; the notice packet commonly prompts public attention because it lists the revenue‑neutral rate, current mill rate and the proposed maximum. Several council members expressed concern that submitting a higher maximum that staff does not intend to use would create unnecessary public confusion.

Next steps: the county will send required notices and the governing body will hold joint public hearings on Aug. 26 to consider levies and the budget. City staff emphasized that the proposed budget under development currently assumes the existing mill rate, and any levy change would require separate council action at the public hearing.

Ending: the council approved both hearing‑setting resolutions; staff said it will continue work on the 2026 budget and return with detailed budget documents for review.