A proposed budget of over $563 million is being recommended for Sedgwick County government for next year, with $30.1 million for the Fire District. County Manager Tom Stolz presented his recommendations to county commissioners on Wednesday.
Stolz said the budget has four main goals, based on discussions with commissioners, department leaders and the county’s budget team, along with public input from two town hall meetings.
–emphasize the workforce
–refocus on core county services
–cut the mill levy and limit valuation increases
–review government role and partnerships in all operations
Stolz said county staffing is in a better place than two years ago, because of compensation increases that were approved. He said inflation has slowed, but costs are still high. The county is also facing some major projects and community issues. He said the county is facing a long-term deficit of almost $5 million, and he proposed a two-year strategy that will reduce most of the imbalance in 2025, with the rest to be accomplished the following year.
The budget provides for raises of two to three percent for county employees, with a five percent step increase for the Sheriff’s Office, three percent step increases for EMS and Fire District 1, and a three percent increase for 911. In addition, the budget includes ten new positions for 911, six new positions in the Fire District, two positions in the District Attorney’s office staff, two positions in EMS, and two positions in information technology.
The budget will reduce cultural arts funding by $1 million, and Stolz said it will not fund $6.3 million in requests from county departments.
Stolz said the budget will reduce the county mill levy by one third of a mill, and the Fire District levy will be reduced by two-thirds of a mill, and the county will not capture all of the growth from increases in property valuations.
County commissioners will have a public hearing on the evening of July 31st to hear comments on the budget, and a second hearing will be held during the commission meeting on August 21st, with adoption of a final budget at that meeting.
Commission chairman Ryan Baty said the community is reeling because of increases in property taxes through increased valuations. He said the county is too dependent on property taxes, and he wants to have a conversation with leaders of cities and towns on this issue. He said he will be inviting all 20 cities to a meeting to talk about using some revenue from a one-cent sales tax that has been collected since the 1980s to fund some cultural arts and recreational programs and services. The county gets $40 million a year from the sales tax, and half is required to be spent on roads, bridges and infrastructure.
