Reno County adopts 2026 budget after heated public hearing on property taxes

The Reno County Commission adopted the county2026 budget and voted to levy a property tax rate above the state-calculated revenue-neutral rate following a public hearing dominated by residents who said rising valuations and a proposed mill-levy increase are pricing them out of their homes.

Commissioners held the hearing as part of their regular meeting, heard more than a dozen public comments and then approved a resolution to exceed the revenue-neutral rate before formally adopting the budget and the special-district budgets that fund several local fire districts and sewer projects.

Nut graf: The budget vote comes after months of staff work and a series of study sessions. Commissioners said they reviewed departmental cuts but concluded that, because of inflation and service needs, modest additional revenue was necessary to maintain county operations and reserves; residents urged the commission to find alternatives.

Most speakers focused on property-tax pain and the countyrole in valuations. Several residents told the commission their property valuations have risen substantially in recent years even when they had not made improvements to their homes. William Colvin, who said he has lived at his address 35 years, told commissioners his property valuation rose 42% over several years while comparable nearby homes rose less, and he said the increase threatened his ability to remain in his home. "I'm going to get hit pretty hard by taxes," Colvin said.

Others described similar strains. Joshua Haver said his property had increased 44% in five years and that a 26% mill-levy increase on top of that would make homeownership unaffordable for many younger families. Betty Bachman, who supports her 88-year-old mother, said her property-tax bill has nearly doubled since she moved and is now consuming several months of her Social Security income.

Commissioners and staff responded with explanations of how property values and tax rates are set. County Counselor Patrick Hoffman and County Administrator Randy Partington reiterated that the county does not set appraised values: the state appraisal process determines assessed values and the county sets a mill levy to meet budgeted expenditures. Partington noted the county must also meet federal reporting and audit requirements tied to some funding sources. "Values are out of our hands," a commissioner said during the hearing. "We have nothing to do with the values." (Statement paraphrased from remarks by county staff and commissioners in the hearing.)

Several residents urged state-level reforms to appraisal and property-tax law and asked the commission to press the county's legislative representatives. Commissioner comments acknowledged the complexity of the issue and noted that the county participates in the Kansas Association of Counties and holds annual meetings with state legislators to advocate for county priorities.

A second thread during the hearing concerned outside-agency funding, notably support for the Reno County Museum. Museum advocates, including Bronwyn Page and local historian Jim Potter, described the museum's holdings and programming, and warned that recent county budget cuts had reduced staffing and program capacity. Potter asked commissioners to restore funding so the museum could maintain and accept important artifacts and continue public programs.

Economic-development and workforce representatives also spoke. Deborah Tufel of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber and Lauren Storm of Greater Hutch Economic Development defended county investments in economic development, housing and workforce programs as long-term strategies to grow the tax base. "Economic development is a team sport," Tufel said, adding that recent private-sector expansions and a large energy project under consideration would not have advanced without local economic-development efforts.

Formal actions and votes: The commission first voted on a resolution to levy a rate above the revenue-neutral rate. The record shows the resolution passed on a roll call: Commissioner Parks: yes; Commissioner Vincent: no; Commissioner Hurst: yes; Commissioner Bonker: yes (3-1). After additional discussion, the board moved to adopt the county2026 budget as presented by staff; the motion passed on a roll call: Commissioner Parks: yes; Commissioner Vincent: no; Commissioner Hurst: yes; Commissioner Wenger: yes (3-1). The board also adopted the special-district budgets (fire districts and certain sewer/bond funds) as recommended.

Commissioners said they had asked departments for deep cuts prior to the hearing and that staff had further trimmed the recommended budget. County staff noted the adopted total budget authority includes several large funds that are not expected to be fully spent, and they said the adopted tax increase translates to roughly $26 per year for the county portion of taxes on a $100,000 home, a figure staff provided at the hearing to illustrate impact.

Ending: Commissioners said they will continue outreach to residents about valuation appeals and to state legislators about appraisal reform. They also told outside agencies and partners that additional presentations and documentation would be needed in subsequent budget cycles if funding is to be restored or increased.

Votes at a glance: Consent agenda approved (motion and roll call recorded earlier in the meeting); Resolution to exceed revenue-neutral rate — passed (3-1); County budget adopted as presented — passed (3-1); Special-district budgets adopted — passed (vote recorded as approved).