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Olathe staff presents FY2026 budget; council votes to authorize levy exceeding revenue neutral rate
Summary
Budget analyst Ashley Wooten outlined the proposed FY2026 budget—general fund approximately $227 million, total proposed budget roughly $626 million—and the council voted unanimously to approve a resolution authorizing a levy exceeding the revenue neutral rate as part of the budget process.
Budget analyst Ashley Wooten presented the high‑level framework for the proposed FY2026 budget during the Sept. 2 public hearing. She described the general fund at roughly $227,000,000 (about $147,000,000 operating, $31,000,000 in transfers and $49,000,000 in reserves), a proposed total city budget near $626,000,000 (a 2.6% increase from 2025), a 5‑year CIP of about $741,000,000, and an average residential utility bill increase of $7.36 for 2026.
Wooten explained the revenue neutral‑rate requirement under the Kansas truth‑in‑taxation rules: the revenue neutral rate is the tax rate that would generate the same property tax revenue as the previous year using current assessed valuation. After the presentation and public comment, council considered Resolution No. 25-1075 to authorize a levy that would exceed the revenue neutral rate (this action sets a maximum levy but does not finalize the mill rate). The resolution passed unanimously, 7–0. Residents during public comment urged transparency, requested per‑capita and peer comparisons, and pressed council to limit property tax increases for seniors and low‑income households.
