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Sedgwick County begins work on 2026 budget; commission set to review manager’s July proposal
Summary
Commissioner Ryan Beatty outlined the county’s budget timeline, public engagement tools and key spending pressures — including public safety and federal grant uncertainty — and said he expects a continued reduction in the county’s mill levy.
Commissioner Ryan Beatty of Sedgwick County’s District 4 on Monday said formal work on the county’s 2026 budget has begun and outlined a timeline that includes department budget hearings in May, a recommended budget from County Manager Tom Stultz in July, a six-week review period for the commission and an anticipated final vote in August.
Beatty said the budget process begins with detailed department presentations. “In May, we had budget hearing where directors, appointed officials, and electives from all 46 departments to make up Sedgwick County government came to present an update to the county commission,” he said, adding that those presentations included workforce baselines, SWOT analyses and decision or reduction packages.
The update explained why the item matters to residents: the county controls a portion of property tax bills and must balance rising service demand with limited revenue options. “Central County government makes up between 20 to 25% of your property tax bill,” Beatty said, and he added that the commission has influence over only a portion of the overall tax burden made up by other local taxing jurisdictions.
Beatty described public outreach and tools the county plans to use during this budget cycle. “This year, the county has launched a budget simulator that allowed an individual to get online and really work through the options to help balance the budget,” he said, and urged residents to engage with the tool and the review process once the county manager’s recommended budget is released.
On programmatic priorities, Beatty said public safety needs and call volume increases will drive investments, including continued modernization of 911 and emergency medical services. He also said the commission is working to ensure the elected sheriff has resources for jail operations. He named infrastructure and efficiency projects as other considerations, noting capital-improvement projects intended to consolidate county buildings and services.
Budget pressure from external funding changes was also raised. Beatty said federal grant adjustments could shift “several million dollars” away from departments such as health, aging, public works and community care, increasing the challenge of balancing local priorities.
He identified operational details the commission will weigh as it develops proposals: separating 911 call-taking and dispatch functions, moving to discipline-specific dispatching, and maintaining the county’s road and bridge network — he noted Sedgwick County manages about 600 bridges and roughly 600 lane miles.
On taxes, Beatty said he hears constituent concerns about rising property-tax bills and said the commission will try to limit reliance on property taxes where possible. “I’m nearly certain that this commission will likely pass a budget that lowers our mill levy for the third year in a row,” he said.
Beatty closed by asking residents to engage with the process and offering contact details for his office for questions or feedback.
The update was informational and did not include a formal commission action, motion or vote.
