Osage County commissioners vote to notify intent to exceed revenue-neutral rate; hearing set for Sept. 15

Osage County commissioners voted Tuesday to provide formal notice that they intend to exceed the county nd related taxing districts nnual revenue-neutral rate and set a public hearing for Sept. 15 at 5:30 p.m. at the Osage County Courthouse in Linden. The hearing will also serve as the county—udget hearing.

County staff told commissioners that keeping the current mill levy of 45.715 would produce roughly $490,001.56 more revenue than a strictly revenue-neutral rate because assessed valuation increased; staff recommended keeping the levy level would require the notice to exceed the revenue-neutral rate. Commissioners discussed the trade-offs between maintaining the current levy (which would increase county collections) and adopting the revenue-neutral rate (which would hold total collections flat compared with last year).

Commissioners highlighted several budget pressures driving the discussion: a roughly $300,000 across-the-board increase approved earlier in the year, anticipated increases in health and retirement contributions (including projected increases for KPNF and other county programs), an elevator repair in the courthouse, and IT costs. Staff said maintaining the current mill levy would increase projected collections from about $9.1 million to about $9.6 million.

The board voted, with a seconder and recorded ayes, to direct staff to publish notices required for exceeding the revenue-neutral rate and to set the hearing for Sept. 15 at 5:30 p.m. in Linden. Notices to taxpayers will be mailed after July 20, as required by the county dministration. Commissioners said they will continue budget discussions in the coming weeks and expected supplemental hearings and final action at or after the Sept. 15 hearing.

Commissioners also approved separate notices for the Sailaway/Osage Sewer District No. 1 and other taxing districts at the mill levies staff presented during the meeting.