Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Preliminary 2026 budget proposes 45.479 mill levy; county schedules hearing Aug. 26
Summary
Harvey County's preliminary FY2026 recommended budget proposes a tax levy of $19.3 million and an estimated mill levy of 45.479 — 1.886 mills above the revenue-neutral rate — requiring an additional public hearing; staff reported cuts to supplemental and equipment requests to reduce spending.
Assistant County Administrator and Finance Director Shannon Kingsley presented the FY2026 Preliminary Recommended Budget to the Harvey County Commission on July 8. The recommended total levy in staff materials is $19,314,576 with an estimated mill levy of 45.479, an increase of 1.886 mills over the revenue-neutral rate of 41.269. Because the proposed rate exceeds the revenue-neutral rate, Kingsley said an additional public hearing is required; the revenue-neutral rate and budget hearings were tentatively scheduled for Aug. 26 at 10 a.m.
Kingsley said the budget process began in February and staff incorporated input from departments, administration and the commission. She said wage adjustments based on market comparisons were included. The preliminary package removed or deferred more than $943,000 in supplemental requests and more than $203,000 in equipment and project requests, and extended some computer warranties to move replacement to a five-year cycle rather than three years. Commissioners were asked to review the materials and prepare for a final decision by July 15; Kingsley cautioned final mill levy may change when final valuations are released.
"This recommended budget is based on all of the input from the commission, administration and departments," Kingsley said during the presentation. The board did not vote to adopt the budget at the meeting; staff scheduled follow-up work sessions and hearings to meet statutory requirements.
