Council Workshop to Review International Property Maintenance Code, Budget Tactics and Potential Sales Tax Options

City Manager Layton told the Wichita City Council that the workshop will cover two primary topics: an introduction to the International Property Maintenance Code and a review of budget tactics, outcome measures and options for balancing the 2026–27 budget under scenarios the council previously instructed staff to prepare.

Layton said the code item would introduce the international property maintenance code to make Wichita’s property‑maintenance rules consistent with other international codes the city uses. On budgeting, staff will present tactics to achieve council strategies, outcome measures tied to budget goals, and budget options under two scenarios so the council can give direction on balancing the 2026 and 2027 budgets. At the council’s request, staff also assembled information on a potential sales tax for the council to review and discuss.

Layton noted the workshop timing may conflict with an upcoming funeral or celebration of life the council planned to attend but said staff included the two weighty topics and one additional item at the request of the council. The preview did not include proposed code language, fiscal estimates, or sales tax rate scenarios.

Why it matters: adopting the International Property Maintenance Code would change the city’s regulatory baseline for property maintenance; budget scenario reviews can shape taxes, service levels and staffing. The sales tax materials are informational at this stage and are intended to elicit council direction rather than immediate action.

Next steps: staff will present the code introduction, budget tactics and sales tax information at the scheduled workshop; the council will be able to ask for refinements or direction during that meeting.