Baldwin City lowers mill levy by half‑mill and adopts 2025 budget

Baldwin City’s council completed the required hearings and adopted the city budget for the coming year, including a half‑mill reduction to the city’s mill levy.

At the required revenue neutral hearing, the council confirmed the process and then opened the budget hearing. Baker Tilly (speaker 12), the city’s retained accounting firm, told the council the proposal reflects a 0.5‑mill decrease (from 43.39 to 42.89), a reduction that equates to roughly $21,500 in ad valorem tax less than a no‑change scenario. The firm said the budget uses a 3% salary increase assumption for public staff and includes capital lease items for a new patrol vehicle, upgraded fire radios and a brush truck.

Council and staff discussed the distinction between revenue neutral and mill levy neutral calculations. Baker Tilly illustrated how the R and R notice and calculations preserve a similar total revenue figure while the proposed half‑mill decrease reduces the extent to which rising assessed valuation would increase taxes.

After deliberation, Council moved and approved Resolution 2025‑20 (motion at SEG 963); the roll call recorded one nay and multiple yes votes. Council then approved Resolution 2025‑21 formally adopting the budget (motion at SEG 983); the vote passed unanimously.

Staff noted the library’s mill (4.2 mills) is included in the city’s published mill levy but is passed through from the library board and that some capital projects (for example, the Brick Street work) are underway and KDOT Highway 56 funds remain under review. The council said the waterline replacement to Lawrence was estimated preliminarily by staff at approximately $15,000,000 and that they have contacted Congressman Smith’s office to seek federal funding assistance.