Wichita city manager outlines early priorities, flags March sales-tax measure

The city’s new chief administrator said his opening weeks will focus on listening to staff and residents and learning the organization before settling long-term budget priorities.

"Look, listen, and feel," the city manager said, describing a schedule of departmental tours with directors and district tours with council members to learn local issues and stakeholders. He said city leaders are preparing for a March sales-tax measure that will shape the next budget depending on voter approval and that staff will work with the legislative delegation during the January session to seek support for city priorities.

The manager framed the early weeks as information-gathering rather than decision-making, saying the city has a strategic plan and that his role is to align budgets to the council’s priorities. "We'll get to the heart of the budget conversation again for the next fiscal year," he said.

Context: The mayor introduced the manager at the briefing and noted a slate of personnel transitions at City Hall this month, including a January 12 ceremony to welcome District 1 Council Member Joseph Shepherd and honor an outgoing council member. The mayor also reminded residents that council will select a vice mayor on January 13 for a one-year term.

What happens next: The manager said he will spend the next several months meeting staff and stakeholders and then work with the mayor and council to prioritize items for the next fiscal year; he also identified the March sales-tax question as a budget inflection point that will be resolved by voters.

Quotes in this article are drawn from remarks at the mayor’s briefing by the mayor and the city manager as recorded in the briefing transcript.