Shawnee council notifies clerk it will exceed revenue neutral rate, sets Aug. 24 hearing

Communications Director Doug Donahue said the Shawnee City Council voted to inform the county clerk that it intends to exceed the revenue neutral rate of 21.948 and instead propose a rate of 23.267 for the coming budget year.

The action, Donahue said, also included setting a public hearing on the revenue neutral rate for the council meeting on Monday, Aug. 24. "This decision does not officially set the mill levy for the coming budget year," he added. Donahue reported both votes passed 7–0.

Why it matters: notifying the county clerk of intent to exceed the revenue neutral rate is a required step in the local budget process and triggers required public notice and hearing procedures before any final mill levy is adopted. The hearing on Aug. 24 will be the opportunity for public comment and for the council to consider adoption of the proposed rate.

Details and next steps: The council’s notice to the county clerk formally begins the sequence of public hearings and legal notices required under local budget law. Donahue did not provide the names of the motion’s mover or seconder, and the record provided here does not include any council debate or amendments to the proposed rate. The city’s communications summary stated the two associated council votes each passed 7–0.

The council reiterated that the notice alone does not set the mill levy; a later formal vote adopting the mill levy is required after the public hearing and any required notices and findings. The council is scheduled to meet again on July 27; the public hearing on the revenue neutral rate is set for Aug. 24.