Shawnee council reviews 2026 budget overview, staffing changes and transient guest tax increase proposal

City Manager Paul Kramer told the Shawnee City Council at its July meeting that staff will present the city manager’s proposed 2026 budget on July 28 and asked the council for direction on whether to include a proposed increase in the city’s transient guest tax from 8% to the 9% cap allowed by charter ordinance.

Kramer said the city’s “all funds” balance is shown on the presentation as about $82.1 million and that the general fund accounts for roughly 47.8% of that total. He described the all-funds figure as a snapshot that can swing when the city makes large payments — citing a midyear interest-only credit-card payment and a December principal-and-interest payment that together affect the debt service fund.

The presentation also covered the reserve reduction plan. Kramer said the council’s three-year plan is on track: the general fund reserve target is 45% by the end of 2025 and the presentation showed the city is essentially on target at about 45.2%. He said the council previously…