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Sedgwick County staff: Legislature ends session leaving tax bills unresolved; SB35 heads to governor
Summary
County staff told commissioners the legislative session adjourned late, Senate Bill 35 (a 1.5-mill state levy change) passed and is headed to the governor while locally important bills— including the treasurer's and sales-tax bills—remained unresolved ahead of the April 10 veto session.
Tanya, the county legislative liaison, told the commission the Senate and House adjourned late and several county-priority bills did not finish before adjournment. "Just to give you some updates on where we're at as far as property tax, 4% cap, didn't make it," she said, and reported that "our elections bill made it" while the treasurer's and sales-tax bills were left pending.
A commissioner summarized the notable tax outcome: "It's about $17.25 on a $100,000 house," referring to the 1.5-mill shift included in Senate Bill 35, which the speaker said will be sent to the governor. Commissioners discussed the two-day veto session starting April 10 and concluded the short window makes advance movement unlikely for bills that require new spending. Several members said the treasurer's bill has the biggest short-term budget impact and may need targeted attention in the next legislative cycle.
Why it matters: SB35 changes how some property-tax-related revenue is handled at the state level, which affects local revenue flows and the commission's ability to plan mill-levy reductions in the 2026 budget. Commissioners also flagged that a fuller review and advocacy effort over the summer may be necessary to craft a more durable tax-policy solution.
Next steps: Commissioners agreed to prioritize follow-up on the treasurer's bill and remain engaged through the veto window, but acknowledged the limited opportunity for substantive action during the reserved April 10 session.
