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Geary County budget draft shows $2.1 million increase over 2025; commission to decide whether to exceed revenue-neutral rate
Summary
County finance staff presented a 2026 budget draft showing a proposed mill increase that would exceed the revenue-neutral rate by 6.926 mills, largely driven by a 27th payroll period and personnel costs; the commission must tell the clerk by July 20 whether it intends to exceed revenue-neutral.
Geary County finance staff presented the commission with the draft 2026 budget and supporting worksheets during a July 7 budget work session, outlining the factors that push the proposed levy above the revenue-neutral rate.
Finance Director Timmy Robinson (presentation lead) told commissioners the draft budget shows total expenditures growing from approximately $31.5 million in 2025 to $32.6 million in 2026, an increase of about $1.1 million. Key drivers include a 27th payroll period (estimated at $591,034) and personnel-step and cost-of-living adjustments (a 1% COLA and 3% step increases were modeled).
Robinson explained the draft produces a proposed mill rate of about 59.428 mills, which is 6.926 mills higher than the clerk's calculated revenue-neutral rate of 52.502 mills. That represents an estimated revenue increase of about $2.0 million compared with revenue-neutral collections. The finance office included a historical delinquency factor (1.8%) and proposed revenue assumptions for sales tax and investment income in the draft.
Commissioners asked for clarifications on several points, including the calculation and impact of the 27th pay period, whether some onetime transfers (such as CIP transfers made earlier in 2025) might be used to reduce the levy pressure, and which outside agency appropriations could be adjusted. Finance staff noted that some decreases in department requests were voluntary and one-time actions (for example, a $500,000 voluntary decrease because of an earlier CIP transfer) and warned that onetime savings would not be repeatable in future budgets.
A procedural deadline: the commission must tell the county clerk by July 20 whether it intends to exceed the revenue-neutral rate; final budget documents are due to the clerk by Oct. 1 and must be published and hearings scheduled in advance of that date (publication and hearing windows were reviewed by staff).
What happens next: Commissioners planned a follow-up work session for further review and asked finance to provide historic series on sales tax, investment income and interest-and-penalty receipts to test revenue assumptions. Commissioners discussed holding an additional budget session July 14 or during the next regular meeting; staff offered to return with refined numbers.
Why it matters: The proposed budget would raise county tax collections above revenue-neutral levels if the commission proceeds, increasing the average property tax bill for residents; commissioners must weigh one-time versus ongoing choices and reserve policy commitments when deciding whether to exceed revenue-neutral.
