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Seward County staff project near-double‑digit budget increase; commissioners debate use of reserves and transfers
Summary
Seward County staff told commissioners they face an estimated 9.9% year‑over‑year increase in the county budget and discussed options including a $600,000 transfer to the Special Highway fund and restoring a National Beef reserve. Commissioners weighed raising the mill levy versus drawing on reserves to cover gaps.
Seward County commissioners were told during a budget work session that the county’s preliminary 2026 budget shows a roughly 9.9% increase and that the commission must decide whether to shift funds, raise the mill levy or use reserves to avoid cutting services.
County finance staff presented lines showing operating pressures caused by flat levy rates, rising costs for insurance and utilities, and a series of one‑time or unusual items the commissioners have been handling from reserves. The administrator’s worksheet presented a scenario in which restoring a previously withheld reserve tied to a National Beef protest would push preliminary levy estimates into the low‑to‑mid 11‑mill range, while other scenarios without that reserve produced lower estimates. Staff characterized the current provisional levy estimate as “about 11–12 mills” depending on those choices and on final valuation figures.
Why this matters: The mill levy determines property tax collections and is the primary lever available to the commission to cover recurring costs without drawing down reserves. Commissioners discussed tradeoffs between using reserves or temporary transfers and increasing the levy, noting that drawing on reserves reduces funds available for future capital projects or emergencies.
County staff highlighted a pending transfer the commission discussed earlier in the session: a $600,000 proposed transfer to the Special Highway fund to preserve ability to chip seal Second Street and other near‑term road projects. Commissioners were told that leaving that transfer in place reduces available fund balance and would raise the levy relative to a scenario in which the transfer is cut.
Staff also reported growth in some fixed costs: commercial insurance costs the county nearly doubled in the most recent fiscal year relative to prior estimates, and utilities and postage increases are contributing to upward pressure on the general fund. Staff noted their insurance broker recommended budgeting a 15% increase for next year while the county prepares to rebid coverage.
Commissioners expressed concern about balancing short‑term relief against longer‑term capacity: restoring reserves or transferring one‑time funds reduces the county’s ability to respond to future contingencies, but immediately raising the levy risks pushback from taxpayers. Several commissioners said they preferred to show voters a conservative levy request and use targeted transfers where necessary; others urged leaving funds in a special highway or reserve to avoid deferring road maintenance.
The session did not record any formal votes. Staff said revised levy projections and the final recommended budget will return to the commission for formal adoption once valuation numbers and a final list of transfers are confirmed.
Ending: County staff will refine levy estimates and present an updated budget document at a future commission meeting; the commission did not set a final mill levy during the session.
