Chase County commissioners vote to exceed revenue-neutral rate, set proposed levy at 71.062 mills

The Chase County commissioners voted Monday to publish a proposed property tax levy of 71.062 mills, above the county's stated revenue-neutral rate of 58.345, authorizing staff to proceed with required mailings and public notices.

The move begins a statutorily required notification process that allows the county to present a proposed budget above the revenue-neutral calculation while retaining the option to lower the levy before final adoption. Commissioner (chair) made the motion to publish the higher figure and commissioners seconded it; the motion carried on a voice vote with commissioners saying "aye." "Make a motion that we will exceed the revenue neutral rate of 58.345 with the number of 71.062," the chair said on the record.

County staff and department heads spent more than three hours reviewing line items during Monday's session, highlighting road-and-bridge, sheriff's office and general-fund pressures. Staff cited a preliminary assessed valuation of about $71,000,000 for 2025, up from about $68,000,000 the prior year; that higher valuation lowers the rate needed to raise the same dollar amount. Nevertheless, department spending requests and lower-than-expected carryover in some funds led commissioners to propose the higher levy to sustain current service levels.

Key figures discussed during the hearing included a proposed rise in the road-and-bridge levy that, in one presented scenario, would move that fund's levy from roughly 23.379 mills to 26.866 mills to support a budget requiring about $1,900,000 in road-and-bridge tax revenue. The general fund levy, after staff adjustments, was presented at about 38.476 mills (down from an earlier staff figure of 39.227). Staff also proposed adjusting noxious-weed program receipts from $60,000 to $72,000 (an 80% recovery assumption of chemical costs) to better match projected sales and expenses.

County staff warned commissioners that the statewide calendar for tax publications is compressed. The county clerk must publish the proposed levy/mailer and set hearing dates within a narrow window set by state guidance; after the mailed notice and hearing process begins, the county may only lower the proposed levy, not increase it. Staff outlined a likely timeline that would include publication/mailings and hearings in August through September.

Finance staff provided additional context on revenue sources: state-assessed property (utilities, railroads, etc.) and personal property changes were cited as contributors to the higher valuation. Department-level changes discussed included adjustments to sheriff's office numbers and transfers from detention revenue; staff noted a typical transfer from detention receipts of roughly $130,000 that has historically been used to support sheriff operations.

Commissioners and staff said further budget work will continue after today's vote to publish the proposed higher levy, with the expressed intent that the county would continue refining line items and could lower the levy before final adoption. "Not actually exceeding it today; intending to," one commissioner said after making the motion to publish the higher rate.

Next steps include publication of the proposed levy and mailing required notices to taxpayers, followed by the public hearing process set by the clerk. Commissioners may amend the levy downward following that public process but may not raise it above the published level.

Context and local impact: the proposed levy increase would raise the county's tax dollars by roughly $903,000 compared with last year's levy, according to the county's estimate provided during the meeting. Staff emphasized that the published number is a proposal that can be lowered before final adoption and that the compressed schedule for mailing and hearings limits the time for further revisions before notices go out.