Washington council adopts 2025 budget, passes property-tax resolution above revenue-neutral rate

The Washington City Council on Sept. 3 adopted the city’s 2025 budget and voted to levy a property-tax rate that exceeds the state-calculated revenue-neutral rate.

At the start of the meeting the council opened and closed public hearings required for both the revenue-neutral-rate determination and the proposed use of funds for the 2025 budget. Council Member Carolyn Pinnick moved to adopt RESOLUTION 2024-04 to levy a property-tax rate exceeding the revenue-neutral rate; the motion was seconded by Terry Morse and carried on a recorded vote. Later, the council moved to adopt the 2025 budget as published, a motion moved by Jerry Fuhrken and seconded by Morse, which also passed on a roll-call vote.

The hearings provided an opportunity for taxpayers to raise objections; the minutes record no citizen comments at the meeting. City Clerk Denise Powell recorded the votes with the ayes listed as Amy Anderson, Jerry Fuhrken, Terry Morse and Carolyn Pinnick for the recorded motions. The council approved Appropriations Ordinance 2024-09 earlier in the meeting.

The adoption of the budget and the property-tax resolution completes the council’s formal budget process for the coming year. The council’s other fiscal actions during the meeting included consensus direction on rotating replacement of city computers to spread costs over multiple years and authorization to pursue grants for sewer lining through the Kansas Water Office. The council did not specify additional tax-rate figures in the minutes beyond the resolution title.

The council will reflect the adopted budget and levy in the city’s published budget documents and any follow-up filings required by state law.