The budget conveys the organizational direction, priorities, and commitments of community resources. We have to evaluate our current services, recognize the needs that citizens are identifying, and balance those needs against the tax and revenue burden required to finance them. The budget guides and plans what the Board of County Commissioners are being asked to accomplish, along with the human, capital and financial means to do so. Circumstances change, there can be a shift in priorities, changes in the financial environment, and unforeseen events. Each year budget preparations always bring with it new challenges. Cooperative behavior and respect for one another help us face those challenges and move forward.
The Board of County Commissioners held their Revenue Neutral Rate Hearing on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. The motion to approve the Resolutions for both Seward County and the Rural Fire District to exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate failed to pass for the lack of a second. After reviewing K.S.A. 79-2988 the Commission is required to adopt a resolution to exceed the RNR on the same day as the commencement of the public hearing after hearing from interested taxpayers and by taking a roll call vote. This is required prior to the adoption of a proposed budget. The statute provides that “nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit additional public hearings that provide additional opportunity to present testimony or public comment prior to the public hearing required in this section.” There are arguments on both sides of the issue, however because the Commissioners did not pass the resolutions to exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate, they are taking the cautionary approach to this and will be passing a Revenue Neutral budget.
The public hearing for the proposed budget will be held Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. in the Seward County Commission Chambers, 2nd Floor of the Administration Building, 515 N. Washington, Liberal, KS 67901.
