Leawood council adopts $85.8 million 2026 budget, votes to exceed revenue-neutral rate and create golf enterprise funds

The Leawood City Council voted unanimously Sept. 2 to adopt an $85.8 million proposed 2026 budget, to approve a resolution authorizing the city to collect more property tax revenue than in 2025 (exceeding the revenue-neutral rate) and to adopt the 2026–2030 capital improvement program (CIP).

City officials said the adopted plan keeps Leawood’s mill levy flat at 23.514425 mills while allowing the city to collect $1,450,000 more than last year because assessed valuations rose. Jana Raper, the city’s assistant finance director, explained the legal trigger for the hearing: “In Kansas, cities are required to hold a public hearing anytime they plan to collect more in total property tax revenue than the year before.”

The budget package funds core services, debt and capital projects. Staff presented the budget as balanced and noted Leawood’s AAA bond rating as a factor in long-term financial planning. Property tax revenue is the largest single source at about $33.8 million (roughly 41% of the budget). The city projected keeping the mill levy flat while absorbing a 4.3–4.4% increase in assessed valuation; staff estimated the average Leawood home (appraised near $839,000) would see an annual Leawood city portion rise from about $2,151 to $2,270 — roughly $119 more per year (about $10 per month) going to the city portion of the tax bill.

Nut graf: The council completed the legally required…