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County finance director presents April reports, shows mill-levy illustration of tax changes
Summary
Geary County Finance Director Robinson told commissioners the county's April financial reports reconciled with the treasurer's records and presented an illustration showing how keeping the mill rate flat would have increased the county's levies by millions in 2023–2025.
Robinson, the county finance director, told the Geary County Board of County Commissioners that the county's April financial reports reconcile with the treasurer's duplicate statement and reviewed expenditure and revenue activity ahead of budget season.
Robinson said the April cash balances reconcile with the county treasurer's duplicate statement (reference number 3961979337). He also noted the county is 33.33% through the fiscal year and highlighted budget lines that have exceeded that percentage, including portions of the general fund, transfers made at the start of the fiscal year, insurance and workers' compensation, the library, economic development and the fire district. Robinson explained some departments exceed the benchmark because of timing—transfers, one-time payments or reimbursements—rather than sustained overspending.
Robinson presented a multi-year illustration comparing actual mill rates with a scenario in which the county had kept the 2022 mill rate constant through 2025. "If our mill rate had been kept flat from 2022 through 2025," Robinson said, "the levy would have been materially higher each year." He explained the illustration shows roughly $3 million in additional levied dollars in 2023, about $4 million in 2024 and about $5 million in 2025 that were avoided by changing the county's mill rate as valuations changed.
Commissioners asked for clarification on specific line items. One commissioner asked where costs related to reissuing tax statements and postage would be charged; Robinson said those postage costs will be absorbed by general services and training costs were paid from the clerk's tech fund. Robinson also offered to present the mill-levy illustration to the public and use it as an explanatory tool during budget season, noting the graphic is useful but may need explanation for lay audiences.
Robinson closed by reminding the board the reports were provided for information and discussion ahead of formal budget decisions later in the year.
The county did not take a formal budget vote during the presentation; Robinson said the materials were for information in advance of the upcoming budget cycle.
