Atchison County commissioners certify proposed 68.951 mills for 2026 RNR notice; hearing set for Aug. 26

Atchison County commissioners voted 2–1 on July 1 to certify a proposed revenue-neutral-rate (RNR) of 68.951 mills for the county's 2026 budget and set a public hearing for 6 p.m. Aug. 26 at Memorial Hall, 819 Commercial.

The certification begins the county's formal RNR process. Finance Director Mark Seltner told commissioners that, "with putting that dollar figure back in to pay for the jail AC unit, putting that back into the reserve fund ... we are at 68.951 mils." He said the commission must file the proposed rate with the county clerk so the RNR notices can be mailed and the state notified that the county is capping the rate at that figure.

The commission debated whether to publish only a single proposed number or to show both the initial calculation and a revised, lower proposal in materials to help explain the process to the public. Commissioners also discussed outreach: publishing an informational brochure and survey questions alongside the RNR notices and placing the material on the county website and social media prior to mailing.

A motion to certify the 68.951-mill figure was made, seconded and approved 2–1. The commission instructed staff to complete the RNR form and have it signed and sealed by the county clerk, and to proceed with printing and mailing the RNR notices and accompanying informational materials. The certified number caps what the county may levy for 2026 but can be lowered during or after the public hearing process.

The county will hold the public RNR hearing Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. at Memorial Hall. The county clerk will mail the RNR notices and the commission directed staff to develop a one-page informational handout and survey questions to accompany those notices.