Board reviews joint task force proposal on mill levies; trustees raise procedural and equity concerns

The board considered a city‑led proposal to form a joint task force with the city and county to explore potential mill levy reductions and possible offsets such as sales tax adjustments. The item was presented as a reading rather than for immediate action.

District representatives who had attended earlier meetings described the city’s stated intent as seeking input on tax structure and potential tradeoffs; several board members said the city’s primary interest appears to be reducing the mill levy that funds the Emporia Recreation Commission and offsetting its revenue with sales tax. Trustees warned that a shift from property tax to sales tax could disproportionately affect low‑income residents and that the district cannot be compelled to lower its own mill levy.

Board members also questioned whether the proposed task force would produce actionable consensus given divergent interests among the city, county and school boards; several trustees suggested the city could study its own options without creating a multilayered task force that could create expectations the school board might not adopt. Others urged careful education on the financial implications for the rec commission budget, noting board members on the recreation commission had pointed to the commission’s operating realities.

Because the city will not place the item on its agenda until the following week, trustees elected to treat the district’s discussion as a reading and requested staff return with suggested wording changes and additional information if the board wants to engage further. No board vote was taken on any substantive recommendation during the meeting.