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Commission debates hiring David Lam for 2027 budget work as residents seek clarity on property-tax increases
Summary
County clerk recommended hiring David Lam as a contractual budget consultant for 2027; commissioners discussed cost estimates, a possible public workshop, and citizen concerns about rising property-tax bills tied to schools and state valuations.
Clerk Chastity Ware told commissioners she is not comfortable preparing the entire 2027 Linn County budget without outside help and recommended contracting David Lam, who previously prepared the county's budgets for more than 20 years. The clerk estimated the consultant's fee would likely be closer to $5,000–$7,000 rather than larger figures discussed in past years.
Commissioners debated the motion: an initial motion to hire David Lam died for lack of a second amid connectivity issues, a motion to table followed, and after reconciling call interruptions the commission remotioned and ultimately approved hiring David Lam on a contractual basis for the 2027 budget.
Commissioners and public commenters also discussed a recent Kansas Policy Institute presentation that prompted citizen questions about where property-tax dollars flow. Several commissioners said the county's portion of the property-tax levy had not increased but that school levies and state-level valuation shifts were driving larger tax bills for property owners. Commissioners agreed to explore a public workshop—involving mayors and school officials—to explain levy components and potential conservation measures.
The clerk said she would prepare uniform budget worksheets to send to department heads (a request to aim for zero-based budgeting was discussed) and that the consultant would help with department-level worksheets as needed. Commissioners asked the clerk to arrange a workshop and to provide year-to-year budget breakdowns (2021–2025) for public and media distribution.
The commission recorded the contractual hiring motion and the direction to prepare budget materials; specific contract terms and final consultant cost will be confirmed in follow-up paperwork.
