Wichita City Council members have voted to approve a budget for city operations in 2025.

The city budget is balanced and keeps the mill levy at the same rate for the 32nd straight year.  City Manager Robert Layton said the budget reflects community priorities.  It totals over $742 million and provides for higher salaries for the police and fire departments and funding for street maintenance.   The budget also provides funding for crime prevention efforts, $1 million for economic development efforts, and programs to address housing insecurity, including $5 million for an affordable housing fund and funding for the development of a Multi-Agency Center for the homeless.

The Council had to approve a resolution to exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate for 2025.  State law requires a public hearing and a vote if the city’s mill levy is going to be higher than the rate based on the state’s tax lid law.   Remaining at the Revenue Neutral Rate would result in $12.3 million less property tax revenue than the amount included in the 2025 budget.   Mayor Lily Wu said she could only support exceeding the revenue neutral rate to conform to an inflation rate of three percent.   Other Council members said they would support the full amount over the RNR, because cutting $12 million out of the budget would have a negative impact on city services.   Council member Becky Tuttle said exceeding the RNR would support the city’s growth.   The Council voted 6-1 for the resolution, with Mayor Wu voting no.

The vote also includes approval of a Capital Improvement Program that will total $3.1 billion over the next ten years.  The program will cover $792 million in sewer and water system improvements, $572 million in street projects, and $421 million in freeway projects.

Council members approved a number of line-item reductions to try to get ahead of a projected $3.6 million deficit for 2026.  The Council then voted 6-1 to approve the budget, with Mayor Wu voting no.