Lee's Summit finance committee reviews worst-case FY27 budget that could require deep staffing cuts

On April 20, 2026, the Lee's Summit Finance & Budget Committee met in Council Chambers for a work session in which City Manager Mark Dunning outlined revenue risks and a worst-case FY27 budget scenario that would roll many departmental budgets back to fiscal 2025 actuals and could lead to substantial personnel and service reductions.

Dunning told the committee the administration is preparing the FY27 general fund and public safety sales-tax budgets amid notable uncertainties: a preliminary decline in Jackson County assessed valuation (which accounts for roughly 30% of city revenue), an assumed 3% combined growth in sales and use taxes, rising health-care costs, the financial impact of recently negotiated collective bargaining agreements, and increases to LAGERS pension costs. "Preparing this budget is keeping me up at night," Dunning said, and added that "a budget is a plan and we work that plan throughout the fiscal year." (Mark Dunning, City Manager).

Why it matters: the choices the committee makes this spring determine whether the city uses one-time reserves, raises new revenues, reassigns costs, or reduces services and staff. Dunning presented 'scenario…