UG to Hold Budget Workshop this Thursday at 5PM
Published on March 12, 2025
2025 Approved Budget Refresher and Discussion on the UG Debt Strategy
Kansas City, KS - On Thursday, March 13 at 5PM, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS (UG) will host the first budget workshops for the 2026 budget process. This budget workshop will provide a refresher on the adopted 2025 budget, the impacts of a revenue neutral budget, and a proposed strategy for our debt. The public is invited to tune in to hear more about the current state of Unified Government financials, our work underway to address fiscal sustainability, and hear the Commission discuss strategies moving forward.
Understanding the Revenue Neutral Rate
The Revenue Neutral Rate, as defined in KSA 79-2988, is a tax rate that restricts local government to only collecting the same tax revenue as the previous year, regardless of changes in tax laws or increase property appraisal values. When property values increase, as experienced across Wyandotte County for the past several years, taxing jurisdictions (city, county, school districts, community college, etc.) would typically receive additional revenue without any changes in the tax rates. However, as was decided for the 2025 budget, the elected governing body adopted a revenue neutral budget which culminated in budget cuts to the departments and a reduction in mill levy for city and county services. The UG Commission will decide whether or not to adopt a revenue neutral policy for 2026 through this year’s budget workshop.
Engage with the 2026 Budget Process: DotteTalks Coming April 2025
In April, the Unified Government will be hosting two DotteTalks – community conversations on the city and county budget priorities which will be announced soon. Along with the two engaging community DotteTalks, community members will have the opportunity to provide their comments regarding the proposed 2026 budget during the May 29, 2025, full commission public hearing beginning at 7pm.
Budget Workshops with the UG Commission
As budget discussions progress, community members and members of the media are invited to tune in to the remaining budget workshops (dates are subject to change).
- Budget Workshop #2 – April 10, 2025, at 5pm
- Budget Workshop #3 – April 24, 2025, at 5pm
- Budget Workshop #4 –May 15, 2025, at 5pm
- Budget Workshop #5 – May 29, 2025, at 5pm
- Budget Workshop #6 – June 12, 2025, at 5pm
- County Administrator Presents 2026 Proposed Budget August 7th at 5pm in the Commission Chambers of the Municipal Building.
- Budget Workshop #7 –June 26, 2025, at 5pm
- Budget Workshop #8 -August 14, 2025, at 5pm
For more information about the Budget Department, including our online budget data, please visit: Budget – Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City (wycokck.org)
The public is invited to attend this meeting in-person or remotely via Zoom. The meetings will be also broadcasted live via the UG YouTube page and UGTV- channel 2 spectrum cable channel. For more information about upcoming meetings and the detailed agenda, please visit www.wycokck.org/clerk
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