July 20, 2026 Special Meeting

The City of Garden City, Kansas held a special meeting on July 20, 2026, primarily to discuss and approve the draft 2027 city budget with a focus on the mill levy rate and related revenue considerations. The commission reviewed various mill levy scenarios, including maintaining a flat rate or increasing it to meet budgetary needs, particularly for capital improvement projects (CIP) and pay scale adjustments. Staff recommended authorizing the mayor to sign an indication of revenue rate intent that the city plans to exceed the revenue neutral rate, proposing a mill levy of 38.502 to be published for public notification. The commission discussed the impact of potential cuts, such as the communications tool used for public alerts, and considered the financial landscape of other local taxing entities. After deliberation, the commission voted in favor of exceeding the revenue neutral rate with the specified mill levy, aiming to balance fiscal responsibility with community needs. No specific contract awards or vendor selections were discussed during this meeting.