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Herington commission votes 4–0 to exceed revenue neutral rate, certifies 2026 budget at 87 mills
Summary
The Herington City Commission approved a resolution to exceed the revenue neutral rate and certified a 2026 budget at 87 mills after public hearings and staff presentations; the vote was unanimous and commission members were asked to sign certification paperwork.
The Herington City Commission voted 4–0 to approve a resolution exceeding the revenue neutral rate and to certify a 2026 budget at 87 mills.
City staff told commissioners they had held four budget workshops and concluded that the city must exceed the revenue neutral rate to fund basic operations. "We feel to adequately fund the budget next year... we're going to have to exceed the R and R," a city staff presenter said, adding that 87 mills "is enough to manage those basic operations for the next year, 2026." The commission opened and then closed a public hearing on the revenue neutral rate before the vote.
During the separate public hearing on the 2026 budget at 87 mills, resident Larry Mann urged the commission to find cuts and proposed using the cemetery fund (which he said had a balance of $155,000) to pay for cemetery work rather than raising the mill levy. City staff responded that property valuation changes can affect residents’ perceptions of tax increases and that residents may petition the county if they dispute their property's valuation.
A motion to approve the resolution exceeding the revenue neutral rate and proceed to 87 mills passed 4–0 after a roll call; commissioners subsequently voted 4–0 to consider and certify the 2026 budget at 87 mills. The commission asked staff to obtain signatures from all four members to finalize certification.
The commission discussed related items including potential airport upgrades, which staff said would be funded by airport receipts and would not affect the general-mill levy. Staff also noted outreach efforts tied to a proposed sales-tax initiative and upcoming community meetings to explain how any sales-tax funds would be spent.
Votes at a glance - Motion to approve agenda: passed 4–0. - Motion to approve consent agenda: passed 4–0. - Motion to approve resolution exceeding the revenue neutral rate and proceed to 87 mills: passed 4–0. - Motion to consider and certify the 2026 City of Herington budget at 87 mills: passed 4–0.
What happens next Staff will collect commissioner signatures to complete certification of the 2026 budget and will continue outreach to residents about the proposed sales-tax initiative and related CIP discussions.
