Committee recommends 2027 budget for public hearing; staff revises valuation to 3.6%

Gina, presenting the budget update, said Johnson County's assessed-valuation estimate revised expected growth from 4% to 3.6%, which slightly reduces property-tax revenue projections. Staff offset the reduction by increasing estimated interest earnings and adjusting tax increment financing contributions so the recommended budget total remained $515,900,000, a 3.5% increase from 2026, with a projected mill levy estimate of 14.579 mills.

Gina explained the revenue-neutral-rate (RNR) process and schedule: notify the county clerk by July 20 of intent to exceed the revenue neutral rate (calculated at 14.033 mills in staff discussion), publish required notice at least 10 days before the hearing, hold the RNR hearing between Aug. 20 and Sept. 20, and adopt the budget by Oct. 1. The committee approved a seven-part motion to recommend the proposed 2027 budget for public hearing, set the RNR and budget public hearings for Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m., instruct staff to notify the county clerk and draft a resolution of intent to exceed the revenue-neutral rate, and carry out all publication requirements.

Council members asked about sales-tax timing and how to message property-tax implications. Gina reminded the committee that sales taxes are reported two months in arrears (June sales received at the end of August; July at the end of September) and that Overland Park's portion of a typical tax bill is relatively small compared with school taxing entities; staff said the city's share of a household's total property-tax bill is about 12-13% of the total. The committee voted unanimously to recommend the budget and RNR actions for public hearing on Sept. 14.