Emporia officials present FY2026–27 budget and propose 20% water, sewer rate increase

Emporia Vice Mayor Clifton Threat opened a public hearing May 19 on the city’s proposed FY2026–27 General and Utility Fund budgets after Finance Director Alicia Hargrove delivered a slide presentation detailing revenues, expenditures and capital projects.

Hargrove said the proposed General Fund budget for FY27 lists total revenues and expenditures of $50,992,023. The presentation cited changes in major revenue lines — including a projected increase in gaming revenue and reductions in machinery-and-tools tax receipts and court fines — and outlined proposed operating increases that include a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment, a pay-for-performance pool and a 7% health insurance cost increase. The city’s plan for school funding in FY27 is $4,651,705; the schools requested $4,951,705, a gap the presentation noted the city would not fully meet.

The Utility Fund proposal shows FY27 revenues of $11,820,136 and includes a proposed overall 20% increase in water and sewer rates. The presentation provided example new rate tiers: a proposed water minimum for 2,000 gallons of $34.43 and a proposed sewer minimum for 2,000 gallons of $36.42, with higher per-1,000-gallon tiers for larger usage. The utility package also lists capital and debt-service items that drive part of the proposed increases.

Councilmembers proposed multiple line-item reductions to lower the fiscal impact, including eliminating lobbying services ($90,000), a proposed reduction of $200,920 in school funding advanced by some members, and other suggested cuts to discretionary items and part-time staffing. Councilwoman Alvina Matthews registered her objection to the proposed reduction in school funding during the meeting record.

Vice Mayor Threat closed the public hearing after no members of the public elected to speak on the budget. Council did not adopt the budget at the May 19 meeting; the presentation and the council’s proposed line-item changes will inform later budget adoption steps and ordinance actions.

Why it matters: The proposed utility rate increase would directly affect household and business utility bills if adopted; the General Fund decisions influence service levels, school funding and capital projects the city can pursue in the coming year.

What’s next: Council’s budget worksheet shows multiple suggested cuts; final adoption will require ordinance action in a subsequent meeting and formal appropriation by vote.