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Riley County sets September hearing on exceeding revenue-neutral rate, approves 2.7% COLA and benefit district notices
Summary
Commissioners set a public hearing for Sept. 4 to consider exceeding the revenue-neutral rate, approved a 2.7% cost‑of‑living adjustment as proposed in preliminary budget discussions, and filed notices for several benefit districts; Riley County treasurer presented June revenue and fund balances.
Riley County commissioners on July 17 set a public hearing for Sept. 4 to consider an intent to exceed the revenue‑neutral rate for the county’s 2026 budget, approved a preliminary 2.7% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) proposal for county staff, and signed indications for multiple benefit districts that do not exceed the revenue‑neutral threshold.
Shyla Hager, Riley County treasurer, presented June revenue figures before the budget motions: the general fund balance at the end of June was $15,639,003.41 and the county’s total fund balance was $81,703,585.61. She reported year‑to‑date interest income for the general fund of $1,242,612 (about 59% of the annual budgeted amount through June) and said general fund sales tax receipts for June were $196,319.91 — roughly 7% above budget for the month and 5.37% above the same point last year.
Budget and finance officer Britney Phillips outlined proposed changes to several appropriation items and said there was sufficient availability in the economic development line to cover a recommended transfer of $31,007.71 to support the Make My Move grant application (separate agenda item). Phillips said the overall proposed 2026 changes represented a 0.292% increase from the 2025 budget at that stage of development.
Following discussion, commissioners moved forward with a set of procedural budget notices and approvals. The commission authorized staff to publish the county’s intent to exceed the revenue‑neutral rate and set the hearing for Sept. 4 at 10:15 a.m. A similar approval was recorded for Riley County Rural Fire District No. 1; commissioners also approved indications for several benefit districts showing they will not exceed the revenue‑neutral thresholds.
On the COLA proposal, the commission made a motion to approve the listed COLA for 2026 (2.7% as shown in staff materials), the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote (recorded as "Aye"; exact tally not specified in the transcript). Staff noted that final approval will follow normal budget publication procedures and that a subsequent special meeting would be scheduled only if numbers changed and required updates before publication.
Ending: Staff will publish the required notices for the Sept. 4 hearing and continue to refine the budget numbers; commissioners asked staff to continue looking for small strategic cuts to narrow remaining differences and to return with final numbers before publication and the public hearing.
