Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Budgeting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Harrington commission votes to notify intent to exceed revenue-neutral rate at 87 mills; public hearing set for Sept. 2
Summary
After a wide-ranging budget discussion, the Harrington City Commission voted July 15 to notify the county of an intent to exceed the revenue-neutral rate and set a combined budget and revenue-neutral public hearing for Sept. 2 at 6 p.m.; the staff-notified ceiling in the motion was 87 mills pending staff review of county calculations.
The Harrington City Commission voted July 15 to notify Dickinson County that it intends to set a maximum mill levy for 2026 at 87 mills, pending final staff review and correction to match the county clerk’s calculation, and scheduled a combined revenue-neutral rate and budget public hearing for Sept. 2 at 6 p.m.
Why it matters: the commission’s notice reserves the option to exceed the county-set revenue-neutral rate (the county clerk’s revenue-neutral rate for the city was reported in the packet as 81.257 mills). Notifying a higher ceiling gives staff and the commission flexibility during the formal budget process but does not commit the city to a final mill levy; the commission may set a lower final rate during later proceedings.
Discussion and positions: commissioners gave a range of preferences during the meeting. Commissioner Naylor said he could "go higher" and identified a personal maximum of 95 mills; Commissioner Scarf said he would "like to not increase" the mill levy and preferred to remain at revenue neutral; Commissioner Stapp said he favored staying revenue neutral but would accept 85 mills and said commissioners will take heat for increases; Commissioner Bell said his historical view put a workable maximum at 90 mills; Commissioner Scott said he would "stick with 85." Staff calculated that a single mill equals approximately $13,368.29 in revenue and estimated the group’s average indicated number at about 87.2 mills based on the five commissioners’ stated positions.
Motion and vote: a motion to take action on a resolution notifying intent to exceed the revenue-neutral rate for 2026 to 87 mills, "pending staff review," was made, seconded and put to roll call. The resolution text and accompanying materials were to be corrected to reflect the county clerk’s actual calculation before final signature and submission. The Nov. 2 public hearing was set in a separate motion and was also seconded and approved; the clerk will publish required notices.
What staff must do next: staff said it will revise the resolution to match the county clerk’s numerical calculation (the packet shows county-calculated alternative figures) and prepare supporting documentation for the county and for public notices. Staff also was asked to prepare a revenue-neutral alternative budget so the commission and public can compare options at the Sept. 2 hearing.
Limits and context: commissioners repeatedly stressed that notifying a ceiling is not an irrevocable commitment; the council may adopt a lower mill levy after public hearings. Staff warned that late changes compress staff time and make deeper review difficult; staff asked that commissioners make their positions clear so the administration can finalize a notice before the county’s deadline.
Public process: the commission scheduled a combined public hearing on the budget and revenue-neutral rate at the Sept. 2 meeting at 6 p.m., and staff said that public comment during the hearings could still change the commission’s final decision.
No dollar amounts beyond per-mill revenue estimates and candidate mill positions were adopted as final during the July 15 meeting.
