4. Consideration of a resolution levying a property tax rate exceeding the revenue neutral property tax rate of 25.142 mills for the fiscal year 2026 budget a. Public hearing to consider exceeding the revenue neutral property tax rate b. Resolution levying a property tax rate exceeding the revenue neutral property tax rate of 25.142 mills For the fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget, the City's revenue neutral property tax rate was calculated to be 25.142 mills by Johnson County. Since the estimated mill levy in the recommended FY 2026 budget is 26.209 mills (a 0.750 mill reduction from FY 2025) and exceeds the revenue neutral rate, the City will hold a public hearing and consider a resolution to exceed the revenue neutral rate for the FY 2026 budget.

[4. Consideration of a resolution levying a property tax rate exceeding the revenue neutral property tax rate of 25.142 mills for the fiscal year 2026 budget a. Public hearing to consider exceeding the revenue neutral property tax rate b. Resolution levying a property tax rate exceeding the revenue neutral property tax rate of 25.142 mills For the fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget, the City's revenue neutral property tax rate was calculated to be 25.142 mills by Johnson County. Since the estimated mill levy in the recommended FY 2026 budget is 26.209 mills (a 0.750 mill reduction from FY 2025) and exceeds the revenue neutral rate, the City will hold a public hearing and consider a resolution to exceed the revenue neutral rate for the FY 2026 budget. ]

25.142 MILLS IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET. ITEM 4.A.

IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER EXCEEDING THE REVENUE NEUTRAL PROPERTY TAX RATE.

ITEM 4.B. IS A RESOLUTION LEVYING A PROPERTY TAX RATE EXCEEDING THE REVENUE NEUTRAL RATE OF 25.142 MILLS.

BECCY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. BECCY YOCHAM, CITY MANAGER. I, ALONG WITH CFO NATE BLUM, I'M PLEASED TO STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT FOR OUR FOURTH AND FINAL PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF THE PROPOSED 2026 BUDGET. AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY'S ANNUAL BUDGET IS OUR PLAN FOR ALLOCATING RESOURCES IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES OF LENEXA, AND IT IS THE PRODUCT OF MONTHS OF WORK ON THE PART OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF, LED BY THE FINANCE TEAM AND DEPARTMENT HEADS, WITH GUIDANCE FROM YOU ALL.

THIS IS OUR BRIEF AGENDA TONIGHT FOR THE PRESENTATION.

[00:10:04]

AND JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE, YOU DO HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT YOU WILL HOLD TONIGHT ON BOTH EXCEEDING THE REVENUE NEUTRAL RATE AND ON THE FULL BUDGET.

BUT THIS WILL BE STAFF'S SOLE PRESENTATION FOR THIS EVENING.

SO WE'LL JUST DO ONE PRESENTATION FOR BOTH ITEMS. WE START TONIGHT AS WE DO EVERY BUDGET PRESENTATION WITH OUR LONG STANDING BUDGET PRINCIPLES.

WE'VE SORT OF BECOME SO ACCUSTOMED TO BRINGING THESE UP AT EVERY BUDGET DISCUSSION THAT WE HAVE THAT WE ALMOST KIND OF CHUCKLE WHEN THEY COME UP ON THE SCREEN LIKE, OH, OF COURSE THERE THEY ARE. BUT I WOULD TELL YOU THAT THESE PRINCIPLES ARE TRULY FOUNDATIONAL TO NOT ONLY THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET, BUT ALSO TO THE SOLID FINANCIAL CONDITION THAT THE CITY OF LENEXA ENJOYS.

AND SO IT IS IMPORTANT, EVEN THOUGH WE SEE THEM A LOT, TO REMIND OURSELVES AND TO SHARE WITH THOSE PRESENT THAT WE DO TODAY AND HAVE FOR DECADES ADHERE TO THESE BUDGET PRINCIPLES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR OPERATING BUDGETS EACH YEAR, BUT ALSO IN OUR EVERYDAY FINANCIAL OPERATIONS.

A FEW HIGHLIGHTS TO REVIEW. THE TOTAL ESTIMATED BUDGET, OR I'M SORRY.

THE TOTAL ESTIMATED ASSESSED VALUATION FOR THE CITY OF LENEXA FOR 2026 IS $1.95 BILLION.

THAT COMPARES TO THE 2025 ASSESSED VALUATION OF $1.82 BILLION.

AND NEW GROWTH DOES ACCOUNT FOR JUST ABOUT A THIRD OF THE INCREASE THAT WE SEE BETWEEN LAST YEAR'S ASSESSED VALUATION AND THIS YEAR'S.

AND AS YOU WILL RECALL, IS AN ADDITIONAL QUARTER MILL ABOVE WHAT WE WERE RECOMMENDING WHEN WE SORT OF BEGAN THIS BUDGET PROCESS BACK IN JUNE.

THE ADDITIONAL QUARTER MILL IS THE RESULT OF SAVINGS IN THIS YEAR, IN 2025, FROM WHAT WAS ALLOCATED FOR COMPENSATION ADJUSTMENTS.

AND BECAUSE THESE ARE ONGOING SAVINGS, WE FELT COMFORTABLE GOING AHEAD AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THOSE ONGOING SAVINGS AND REDUCING THE MILL AN ADDITIONAL QUARTER MILL.

THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES NO OTHER RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO USER FEES, TO THE STORMWATER SERVICE CHARGE, OR TO FRANCHISE FEES. AND IN TERMS OF ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES, WE'RE RECOMMENDING THE ADDITION OF 2.75 FTES.

THAT'S A NEW POSITION IN PARKS AND RECREATION, ONE IN MUNICIPAL SERVICES, A 0.5 FTE IN THE PUBLIC MARKET, AND A 0.25 FTE INCREASE IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

THIS IS LESS THAN A 1% INCREASE IN STAFFING, AND IT BRINGS THE TOTAL AUTHORIZED FTES, INCLUDING THESE POSITIONS, TO 569.15 POSITIONS. THIS SLIDE COMPARES THE 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET TO THE 2025 APPROVED BUDGET FROM A TOP LINE PERSPECTIVE.

AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, THE FY2025 BUDGET WAS APPROVED AT $246.7 MILLION, WHEREAS THE FY2026 RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS $260.6 MILLION. THIS IS AN INCREASE OF $13.8 MILLION, AND A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THIS INCREASE, OVER A THIRD OF IT IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE CITY'S SPECIAL REVENUE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDS, WHICH, AS YOU KNOW, ARE NOT OPERATIONAL FUNDS TO THE CITY.

THIS IS A GRAPHIC THAT WE USE IN OUR BUDGET EACH YEAR, AND IT SHOWS A REPRESENTATIVE LIST OF THE MANY SERVICES THAT THE CITY PROVIDES TO OUR RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND GUESTS. AND FOR JUST UNDER $124 A MONTH, OUR RESIDENTS RECEIVE ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT YOU SEE HERE AND MANY MORE.

AS YOU KNOW, WE CONDUCT A CITIZEN SURVEY EVERY TWO YEARS TO ASSESS RESIDENT SATISFACTION ON A MYRIAD OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND IT COMPARES US TO OTHER CITIES IN THE METRO, BUT ALSO NATIONALLY.

AND WE ROUTINELY RECEIVE HIGH MARKS IN CITIZEN SATISFACTION SURVEYS.

I COULD SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THAT.

IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE VERY PROUD OF, AND IT REALLY DOES.

THE SURVEY WILL DIVE DOWN TO THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL OF SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.

BUT I WON'T BELABOR THAT POINT EXCEPT FOR TONIGHT.

I DID PULL A COUPLE OF POINTS THAT I THINK ARE SPECIFIC AND SPECIFICALLY RELEVANT TO THE DISCUSSION TONIGHT.

THE FIRST IS THAT 71% OF RESIDENTS ARE EITHER SATISFIED OR VERY SATISFIED WITH THE VALUE THAT THEY RECEIVE FROM THE CITY OF LENEXA FOR THEIR TAX DOLLAR AND FEES.

THAT COMPARES TO 54% ELSEWHERE IN THE METRO AND 32% ELSEWHERE NATIONALLY.

92% OF RESIDENTS ARE EITHER SATISFIED OR VERY SATISFIED WITH THE QUALITY OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY, WHICH COMPARES TO 74% ELSEWHERE IN THE METRO AND 49% NATIONALLY.

AND RECOGNIZING THAT THIS DATA IS NOW ALMOST TWO YEARS OLD, THIS IS 2023 DATA.

OUR LATEST SURVEY IS ACTUALLY ABOUT TO GO OUT THIS MONTH, SO IT WILL BE IN MAILBOXES VERY SHORTLY,

[00:15:05]

AND WE'LL HAVE RESULTS BACK BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

BUT RECOGNIZING THAT THE SURVEY DATA IS TWO YEARS OLD, I DID WANT TO REMIND YOU AND ALL OF US THAT IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, WE HELD AN ELECTION TO RENEW OUR 3.8 CENT SALES TAX, WHICH IS DEDICATED TO PARKS AND RECREATION AND PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE, AND 79% OF OUR RESIDENTS VOTED TO RENEW THE SALES TAX.

I THINK THIS UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE THAT OUR RESIDENTS PLACE ON MAINTAINING AND ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN LENEXA, AND I THINK IT REFLECTS CONFIDENCE IN THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE IN THE CITY'S ABILITY TO DELIVER ON THESE IMPORTANT INITIATIVES.

SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO NATE, AND HE'LL GET INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE DETAILS ON THE BUDGET FOR YOU. THANK YOU, BECCY. NATE BLUM, FINANCE DEPARTMENT. JUST A COUPLE OF HIGH LEVEL SLIDES TO JUST GO OVER WHERE WE ARE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.

AS BECCY MENTIONED, WE FIRST BEGAN DISCUSSING THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET IN JUNE, REALLY STARTED BACK IN JANUARY WHEN STAFF STARTED PUTTING THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET TOGETHER. BUT ON THE REVENUE SIDE, THE TOTAL REVENUES ESTIMATED FOR FISCAL YEAR 26, $171.5 MILLION.

YOU CAN SEE PROPERTY TAXES MAKE UP ABOUT $75 MILLION OF THAT, 43.7%, A REALLY SOLID SPLIT WITH NON PROPERTY TAXES, INCLUDING SALES AND USE TAX AT $72.7 MILLION OR 42.4%.

WE ALSO HAVE CHARGES FOR SERVICES, WHICH IS MAINLY THE REC CENTER AND POOLS COMING ABOUT 8.6% OF THAT TOTAL REVENUE.

ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR LARGEST EXPENSE.

FIRE, POLICE, MUNICIPAL COURT JUST UNDER $41 MILLION OR 24% OF OUR BUDGET IS ALLOCATED TO THAT CATEGORY.

JUMPING DOWN THERE A LITTLE BIT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH INCLUDES OUR TIF AND OUR CID FUNDS, AGAIN REQUIRED TO BE BUDGETED BY STATE LAW BUT NOT OPERATIONAL REVENUE TO THE CITY.

ABOUT $30 MILLION OR 17%. YOU'LL NOTICE TRANSFER TO CAPITAL PROJECTS AND OTHER TRANSFERS.

IF YOU GO TO THE NON-DEPARTMENTAL PAGE OF THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET BOOK, IT LAYS OUT EACH OF THOSE TRANSFERS THAT ARE SHOWN HERE IN A SUMMARY LEVEL.

AND TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR FISCAL YEAR 26, $172.9 MILLION.

YOU'LL NOTICE THAT IS SLIGHTLY MORE THAN OUR ESTIMATED REVENUES.

WE ARE SPENDING DOWN SOME OF THE FUND BALANCE AND A FEW OF THE FUNDS.

HERE'S KIND OF A CHART THAT LOOKS AT A RECOMMENDED BUDGET BY CATEGORY.

PER STATE LAW, WE HAVE TO INCLUDE RESERVES AS WELL AS THESE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDS AND OUR OVERALL BUDGET.

SO OUR LEGAL RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS $260.6 MILLION.

IF YOU TAKE OUT THE RESERVES THAT WE DO NOT PLAN ON SPENDING IN FISCAL YEAR 26, THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES THEN WOULD BE $172.9 MILLION, AND THAT'S ACROSS ALL FUNDS. AND THEN DRILLING REALLY DOWN TO THE LENEXA OPERATING BUDGET, WE WOULD TAKE OUT THOSE PASS THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDS.

SO YOU CAN SEE OUR TOTAL RECOMMENDED BUDGET, $260.6 MILLION.

BUT OUR ACTUAL OPERATIONS, OPERATIONAL EXPENDITURES FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 ARE UNDER $150 MILLION, SO PRETTY BIG DIFFERENCE THERE, BUT IT'S DUE TO RESERVES AND THOSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDS.

PIE CHART, ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT OUR BUDGET.

GENERAL FUND, INCLUDING RESERVES, IS BY FAR OUR LARGEST FUND AND MAKES UP 62% OF OUR OVERALL BUDGET.

COMES IN AT $160.5 MILLION. THE SECOND LARGEST PIECE OF THE PIE, OUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, WHICH INCLUDE THOSE TIF AND CID FUNDS THAT ARE PASSED THROUGH $57.5 MILLION OR 22% OF OUR BUDGET.

WE ALSO HAVE A DEBT SERVICE FUND, WHICH IS DEDICATED TO PAYING OFF THE CITY'S DEBT, COMING IN AT JUST OVER $23 MILLION OR 9%.

AND THEN OUR THREE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, WHICH WOULD BE THE REC CENTER, STORMWATER FUND AND CEMETERY FUND, MAKE UP JUST UNDER $20 MILLION. SINCE THE GENERAL FUND IS OUR LARGEST FUND AND THE BIGGEST PIECE OF OUR BUDGET.

I DID WANT TO JUST KIND OF BREAK IT OUT A LITTLE BIT.

YOU CAN SEE THE FIRST COLUMN THERE, EXPENDITURE TYPE.

AND THEN, THE 26 RECOMMENDED BUDGET COMPARED TO THE 25 ADOPTED EXPENDITURES.

I REALLY JUST KIND OF WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE TOTAL EXPENSES AND TRANSFER LINE HERE.

THAT'S WHAT WE PLAN TO SPEND IN FISCAL YEAR 26.

THAT'S INCREASING 1.14%, SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW THE CURRENT INFLATION RATE, LESS THAN EVEN HALF.

IF YOU ADD IN RESERVES, WHICH ARE OUR POLICY CALCULATION WE WOULD STILL BE UNDER THE INFLATION RATE AT 2.42% FOR FISCAL YEAR 26.

[00:20:06]

THE PROPERTY TAX RATE, WE HAD A HIGH IN 2018 OF 31.832 MILLS.

WE'VE APPROVED LOWERING THE MILL LEVY THROUGH 2025.

WE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED, AS BECCY MENTIONED, A 26.459 MILL LEVY FOR FISCAL YEAR 26, WHICH IS A HALF MILL ROLLBACK.

ON AUGUST 19TH WE ADDED THE ADDITIONAL QUARTER MILL TO THAT.

SO OUR PROPOSED MILL LEVY FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 IS 26.209 MILLS.

SO KIND OF WHAT ARE THE DOLLAR VALUE OF ALL OF THOSE EIGHT YEARS OF MILL LEVY REDUCTION? THE TOTAL MILL LEVY REDUCTION OVER THOSE EIGHT YEARS, 5.623 MILLS, OR JUST UNDER 18% OF OUR MILL LEVY AND ONE MILL EQUATES TO JUST UNDER 1.9 MILLION. SO THE DOLLAR VALUE OF THE MILL LEVY REDUCTIONS ARE 10.6 MILLION ANNUALLY.

SO THAT'S NOT ONE TIME THAT IS ONGOING MONEY THAT WE'VE RETURNED TO TAXPAYERS OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.

AND I'LL JUST NOTE, TOO, AS OUR ASSESSED VALUATION GROWS, THE VALUE OF A MILL GROWS.

SO AS THE CITY GROWS, WITH NEW DEVELOPMENT NEW APPRAISED VALUES, THE VALUE OF THAT 5.623 MILLS ALSO GROWS.

I SHOWED THIS SLIDE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. AS YOU KNOW, BECCY AND I MEET WITH OUR PEERS ACROSS JOHNSON COUNTY TO DISCUSS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE UPCOMING BUDGET. THIS WAS INFORMATION AS OF JULY, SO IT MAY HAVE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.

OBVIOUSLY, WE RECOMMENDED A FURTHER MILL LEVY REDUCTION.

SO IT MAY HAVE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT, BUT THIS IS WHAT THE GROUP PUT TOGETHER.

LENEXA IS ONE OF FOUR JURISDICTIONS THAT WE'RE PLANNING ON LOWERING THE MILL LEVY FOR 2026, ASIDE FROM DESOTO, WE HAD THE LARGEST MILL LEVY ROLLBACK IN JOHNSON COUNTY.

THERE WERE TWO CITIES THAT WERE PLANNING ON INCREASING THEIR MILL LEVY FOR 2026.

AND AT THAT TIME, ALL JURISDICTIONS WERE PLANNING TO EXCEED THE REVENUE NEUTRAL PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR 2026.

AND YOU CAN LOOK AT THE CHART THERE OF THE CITIES IN JOHNSON COUNTY, AS WELL AS THE COUNTY ITSELF.

LENEXA´S MILL LEVY IS JUST BELOW MEDIAN AT 26.209 MILLS.

THIS IS JUST A QUICK SNAPSHOT FROM OUR BUDGET DOCUMENTS.

ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE IS THE TAX VALUE ILLUSTRATION FROM 2025.

AT THE TIME, THE AVERAGE LENEXA HOME VALUE IS $467,000.

THE SNAPSHOT ON THE RIGHT IS FROM OUR RECOMMENDED BUDGET.

YOU CAN SEE THE AVERAGE LENEXA HOME VALUE INCREASED TO $493,000.

THAT DOES INCLUDE NEW HOMES. SO EXISTING AND NEW HOMES TYPICALLY INCREASE THAT AVERAGE.

BUT IF YOU WERE THE AVERAGE LENEXA HOME FOR 2026 THE ESTIMATED IMPACT TO YOU WOULD BE ABOUT $2.98 A MONTH. 2.46% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR. AND FINALLY, I JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY JUST RECAP THE BUDGET PROCESS. AS BECCY MENTIONED, WE DISCUSSED THE BUDGET OVERVIEW BACK IN JUNE.

WE'VE RECEIVED PUBLIC COMMENT REALLY SINCE JUNE 20TH WHEN THE PUBLIC WE POSTED, I GUESS, THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET ON OUR WEBSITE.

WE'VE RESPONDED ABOUT 14 PAGES WORTH OF QUESTIONS, POSTED THEM TO OUR WEBSITE, AS WELL AS RESPONDED TO SOME QUESTIONS DURING THE MEETINGS.

JUNE 25TH, WE, BECCY AND I RECORDED THAT BUDGET OVERVIEW PRESENTATION AND POSTED IT TO OUR WEBSITE FOR PEOPLE TO VIEW.

DEPARTMENTS CAME AND PRESENTED THEIR INDIVIDUAL BUDGETS TO YOU ALL ON JULY 8TH.

AND THEN JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE UPDATED THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET TO INCLUDE THAT ADDITIONAL QUARTER MILL ROLLBACK.

WE ALSO ADDRESSED SOME OF THE SALES TAX PROJECTION AS WELL.

AND THEN TONIGHT, OBVIOUSLY THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR BOTH THE REVENUE NEUTRAL RATE AND THE BUDGET.

SO AS BECCY MENTIONED, THERE'S TWO ACTION ITEMS TONIGHT.

FIRST IS THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE REVENUE NEUTRAL RATE.

THEN CONSIDER ADOPTING THAT RESOLUTION. AND THEN THE FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN A RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED AS WELL.

BEFORE WE TURN IT BACK OVER TO THE MAYOR FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER AT THIS TIME? QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING? OKAY. THANK YOU. NATE. AS WE MENTIONED FOR TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARINGS, WE WILL ALLOW ANYONE TO SPEAK FOR AT LEAST THREE MINUTES.

WE HAVE A HANDY TIMER OVER HERE TO THE LEFT, SO WE CAN BE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS KEEPING TIME.

[00:25:05]

YOUR COMMENTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE GOVERNING BODY AND NOT TO STAFF OR THE AUDIENCE.

WE WILL COLLECT ANY NEW QUESTIONS, WHICH WE WILL REQUIRE A RESPONSE AND ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM.

THIS AGAIN IS JUST ON EXCEEDING THE REVENUE NEUTRAL RATE.

OKAY, [INAUDIBLE]. I'M AN OLATHE RESIDENT. I AM A CANDIDATE FOR 2026 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CHAIR.

THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION YOU'VE SHARED TONIGHT.

I WAS ABLE TO REVIEW A GOOD LITTLE BIT ON YOUR WEBSITE HERE YESTERDAY, JUST TO GET AN APPRECIATION FOR WHERE THINGS ARE FINANCIALLY.

I USED TO LIVE IN LENEXA, NOW LIVING IN OLATHE.

THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT SERVICES IN LENEXA.

I FULLY APPRECIATE MY TIME HERE, AND I THINK YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF WONDERFUL THINGS GOING ON.

IN OLATHE. WELL, HAVING ATTENDED OLATHE IS THE SAME WAY.

I MEAN, A LOT OF GREAT SERVICES THERE, TOO. WE REALLY ENJOY LIVING IN THE KANSAS CITY AREA, HAVING ATTENDED A LOT OF THE COUNTY OR MOST OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETINGS SINCE THE FIRST OF THE YEAR, I'VE GAINED A LOT OF INSIGHT INTO THE WAY THAT THE COUNTY OPERATES.

THE STAFF'S MEANS OF APPROACHING THE BUDGET HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS OF STAFF, SO I FEEL LIKE I'VE BECOME VERY EDUCATED IN THE PROCESS.

LAST AUGUST THE 20TH IS WHERE THE COUNTY HAD THEIR REVENUE NEUTRAL HEARING AND IT WAS ATTENDED BY A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND THERE WAS A COMMON THEME THERE THAT COMES ACROSS, I GUESS, AS WELL, IN SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS THAT YOU RECEIVED ON YOUR WEBSITE.

AND THAT WAS ABOUT THE EVER INCREASING TAXES THAT WE FACE.

IN PARTICULAR, I FEEL FOR THE SENIORS OUT THERE WITH THEIR FIXED INCOMES.

I THINK THAT'S THE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT'S GETTING HIT THE HARDEST.

AND AGAIN, RECOGNIZING THAT WE HAVE REAL GOOD SERVICES, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

WHETHER IT'S PARKS, WHETHER IT'S FEELING SAFE, WHETHER IT'S MENTAL HEALTH IS THE COUNTY ADDRESSES.

SO OFTEN THOSE ARE ALL GREAT. BUT HAVING DONE A DEEP DIVE ON A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT EXIST AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, AND ALSO FEELING LIKE IT HAS TO EXIST TO AN EXTENT AT THE CITY LEVELS AS WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE'S AREAS THAT WE CAN SPEND LESS.

IT'S FREQUENT THAT I HEAR LOOKING AT THE COMMENTS THAT COME FROM THE DAIS AT THE COUNTY, THAT IT'S ABOUT LOOKING FOR WAYS TO INCREASE REVENUES AND NOT TO DECREASE SPEND. THERE'S A LARGE CONSTITUENT OUT THERE THAT IS FACED WITH QUITE A QUANDARY WHEN I RELATE ONCE AGAIN TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE SENIOR CITIZENS.

THEY HAVE HOME VALUES THAT HAVE GONE UP IN PRICE.

THEY HAVE MILL LEVIES HAVE BEEN DROPPED. YES, I CAN APPRECIATE THAT.

BUT THE FACT OF THE STORY IS, IS THAT THE INCREASES IN HOME PRICES, IT'S OUTPACED, THE MILL LEVY DROPS AND THE REVENUES ARE STILL GOING UP.

I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE ECONOMY IS GOING TO TURN, BUT IT DOES FEEL LIKE, EXCUSE ME.

IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THINGS ARE STARTING TO SHIFT A LITTLE BIT.

I SEE THAT IN THE ECONOMIC THINGS THAT I READ.

I'M A CONSERVATIVE, NO DOUBT, AND I LIKE TO READ A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT THE ECONOMY, BOTH NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY.

AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT IF YOU WERE TO.

WHERE AM I ON TIME? THAT'S TIME'S UP. THANK YOU.

TOTAL TIME'S UP? THREE MINUTES. OH, I THOUGHT YOU WOULD LET IT GO LONGER.

I CHALLENGE YOU TO LOOK AT YOUR BUDGETS HARD.

YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE GOING TO WANT THAT. APPRECIATE IT.

FOLKS.

IT'S A LOT OF PAPERWORK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME THIS EVENING FOR LISTENING TO CITIZENS.

MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE]. MY WIFE NANCY IS HERE WITH ME.

I'LL TRY TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE CLOCK. YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE.

I BEG YOUR PARDON? YOUR ADDRESS. 963 BARSTOW STREET, LENEXA.

WE'VE BEEN RESIDENTS OF LENEXA SINCE 1983, SO WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGE WITH SHORT STINTS OUTSIDE OF LENEXA,

[00:30:03]

INCLUDING THE LAST FIVE YEARS WE RETIRED AND LIVED IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WE RECENTLY RETURNED TO LENEXA TO BE CLOSER TO FAMILY AND FARTHER FROM HURRICANES.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE LEARNED ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES IN FLORIDA IS ON THE TOPIC OF SENIOR HOMEOWNERS.

THERE IS HOMESTEAD PROVISIONS. THERE IS A PROGRAM CALLED SAVE OUR HOMES IN LEE COUNTY, WHERE WE WERE.

BUT ACROSS FLORIDA THAT RECOGNIZES MANY SENIORS ARE ON FIXED OR UNCHANGING INCOME STREAMS. AND IT PROVIDED A LOT OF BENEFIT TO A WIDE RANGE OF INCOME LEVELS.

WE RECOGNIZE AND APPLAUD THE WORK LENEXA HAS DONE FOR PEOPLE AT LOWER INCOMES TO MAINTAIN PROPERTY TAX RATES, BUT EVERYBODY IS DEALING WITH THOSE INCREASES, INFLATIONARY INCREASES AND COSTS, STEADILY RISING PROPERTY TAX RATES.

WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING TO BUILD A NEW HOME IN LENEXA.

NOW THAT WE'VE MOVED BACK AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE PROPERTY TAX RATES PRETTY HARD.

SO I THINK I'D LIKE MY BRIEF TIME HERE TONIGHT.

I'D LIKE TO ADVOCATE STICKING TO THAT REVENUE NEUTRAL RATE AND RECOGNIZING THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE AT ANY NUMBER OF INCOME LEVELS FOR WHOM THESE STEADY INCREASES IN PROPERTY TAX RATES ARE A BURDEN AND ARE DIFFICULT, AND THE AVERAGE HOME PRICE IS A GOOD INDICATOR.

BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY INDICATOR THAT REPRESENTS A VERY WIDE RANGE OF PRICES IN LENEXA, AS I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW.

AND SO AT SOME LEVEL, EVERYBODY'S PROPERTY TAX GOES UP AND EVERYBODY'S GOT A BUDGET AND EVERYBODY'S KIND OF SEEING THAT TAKE A BITE OUT OF THEIR INCOME. SO AGAIN, THANKS FOR THE TIME THIS EVENING.

PLEASE CONSIDER HOLDING THAT REVENUE NEUTRAL RATE TO TRY TO KEEP A BIT MORE OF A LID ON PROPERTY TAXES FOR PEOPLE ACROSS THE INCOME AND ACROSS THE AGE SPECTRUM. THANKS. THANK YOU, MR. [INAUDIBLE].

ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE REVENUE NEUTRAL? MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE], AND I'M ALSO IN FAVOR OF ADHERING TO THE REVENUE NEUTRAL RATE FOR THE OBVIOUS REASON.

YOUR ADDRESS SIR. THE HIGHER RATES COST A LOT OF MONEY.

MR. [INAUDIBLE], WHAT'S YOUR ADDRESS, PLEASE? 7703 CONSTANCE.

THANK YOU. STAFF SPOKE ABOUT ALL THE MONEY THAT HAD BEEN RETURNED TO THE PROPERTY TAX OWNERS DUE TO THE MILL LEVY DECREASES. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THAT IN MY RATES OVER THE LAST 23 YEARS, SO MILL LEVIES ARE JUST A WAY TO GET TO THE REVENUE NUMBER YOU WANT. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE EMPHASIS ON WHAT THE YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASES TO THE SPENDING ARE AT ALL THE DIFFERENT LEVELS. OF COURSE I'M INTERESTED IN PROPERTY TAX.

MY PROPERTY TAX IS GOING UP 6.37%. THAT'S WELL OVER INFLATION.

SO YOUR NUMBERS LOOK GREAT AT THE MACRO LEVEL BUT NOT GOOD AT THE MICRO LEVEL WHERE I'M AT.

SO SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CONTROL SPENDING SO THAT RATES DON'T GO UP FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME.

ALSO ON A FIXED INCOME THESE ARE NOT EXORBITANT DOLLAR INCREASES, BUT THESE PERCENT INCREASES ADD UP CUMULATIVELY OVER TIME.

AND I'VE SEEN THIS YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR HAVE NOT BEEN HERE TILL TONIGHT.

SO PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

ANY OTHERS ON REVENUE NEUTRAL RATE? I'D ASK THAT YOU GO AHEAD AND MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN BEFORE THE PERSON BEFORE YOU IS FINISHED.

HI. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] AND I LIVE AT 8413 HARBINGER STREET, LENEXA, KANSAS.

AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF LENEXA FOR THE LAST 40 PLUS YEARS, AND I AND MY HUSBAND ARE TWO PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO ARE RETIRED,

[00:35:07]

LIVES ON FIXED INCOME. AND I´D APPRECIATE IF THE TAX RATE COULD STAY AT THE REVENUE NEUTRAL TO 25.14, THAT WAS THE PREVIOUS ONE. BUT THE REAL ISSUE IS WE ARE SENIOR CITIZENS LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME YEAR AFTER YEAR, WHEN THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASES, THAT HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON OUR LIFESTYLE AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THE SERVICES IN LENEXA. BUT I'VE NOTICED THAT MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WHERE THE COUNTY CITY GIVE A BREAK FOR PROPERTY TAX FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AND RETIREES, AND I URGE LENEXA TO CONSIDER THAT BECAUSE OTHERWISE, YOU KNOW, IT WILL BECOME UNAFFORDABLE FOR US TO LIVE IN LENEXA.

SO I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER A BREAK FOR PROPERTY TAX FOR A SENIOR CITIZENS.

WE DO HAVE A REBATE PROGRAM, IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT, BUT THAT IS ONLY FOR CERTAIN INCOME LEVELS.

I AM FAMILIAR WITH THAT. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL.

I SUPPORT EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID BEFORE. THANK YOU.

OKAY. LAST CALL ON REVENUE NEUTRAL.

8507 ALLMAN. AND I'M NOT SURE IF YOU WERE. YOUR NAME, PLEASE? I'M SORRY? YOUR NAME PLEASE, MA'AM. [INAUDIBLE].

LAST NAME? [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU. AND I'M NOT SURE IF THE PROGRAM YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE HOMESTEAD ACT.

NO. WE HAVE A PROPERTY TAX REBATE PROGRAM THAT FOLKS CAN APPLY FOR TO RECEIVE THEIR A PORTION OF THEIR CITY PROPERTY TAXES BACK.

OKAY. WELL, LET ME ADDRESS THE HOMESTEAD THEN, BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING READY TO RETIRE ON OCTOBER THE 31ST OF THIS YEAR. UNDER THE HOMESTEAD ACT, THE DOLLAR FIGURE OF WHAT YOUR HOME IS ASSESSED AT NEVER CHANGES. IT'S CAPPED AT 350,000. SO EVERYBODY THAT'S ON A FIXED INCOME, THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT OF 350,000, AS WE ALL KNOW, THE AVERAGE HOUSE IS 460 SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS.

WELL, THAT ELIMINATES MOST OF THE SENIORS THAT I KNOW THAT HAD PLANNED ON, LIKE I DID, USING THAT HOMESTEAD ACT TO COUNTER WHAT I HAVE TO PAY IN MY PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES.

AND I'M LIKE, WHEN I TALK TO THE TAX LADY, I'M LIKE, WHAT HAPPENED? SHE GOES, OH, WELL, IT'S CAPPED AT 350. YOU DON'T QUALIFY FOR THAT.

AND I SAID I HAD FIGURED THAT IN. AND SHE SAID, WELL THEN YOU BETTER GO AND TALK TO SOMEBODY ABOUT BECAUSE THAT HASN'T CHANGED IN YEARS. AND I SAID, WELL, HOW CAN THAT BE? HOW CAN THE 350,000 CAP WHILE THE MILL LEVIES AND EVERYTHING ELSE GOES UP? BUT THAT NEVER CHANGED. AND I WANT TO KNOW IF THE MILL LEVY, IF EVERYTHING ELSE CHANGES AND GOES UP, WHY DOESN'T THAT FIGURE GO UP? SO I'M INTERESTED IN SOMEBODY FIGURING OUT HOW DO WE FIX THAT? BECAUSE I WANT TO STAY IN LENEXA. I WANT TO LIVE IN MY HOME.

I DON'T SEE HOW THAT'S GOING TO WORK OUT, WHEN THAT FIGURE.

ALTHOUGH MY HOUSE IS WORTH MAYBE THAT, THE CAP NEVER CHANGED AND YOU CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT, BUT IT IT CAPPED AT 350,000, AND NOBODY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD SELL THEIR HOUSE FOR 350.

SO THAT WOULD HELP THE SENIORS. I CAN TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, AS WE GET ON A FIXED INCOME, I WOULD LIKE TO RETIRE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU. OKAY. YES.

[00:40:26]

WHAT'S THAT? YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE. [INAUDIBLE].

OKAY. 21620 WEST 100 TERRACE. THANK YOU. MY WIFE AND I MOVED UP HERE ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO FROM OLATHE, AND REALLY ENJOYED THE AMENITIES, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE HAS SAID. AND I WANT TO DITTO WHAT THEY WERE SAYING.

I JUST WENT INTO A RETIREMENT ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, AND I CAN REMEMBER ONE OF MY FRIENDS SAYING HE HAD HIS HOUSE PAID FOR. NOBODY WAS GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY.

I MIGHT BE TAXED OUT OF IT, BUT I'LL NEVER FORECLOSE ON ME.

AND I'M IN FAVOR OF SOME SORT OF LIMIT ON IF YOU'RE 65 OR OLDER, WILL YOU MAX OUT? AND ANOTHER FRIEND THAT LIVES IN MISSOURI.

SORRY, BUT OVER WHERE HE LIVES, HE SAYS THEY'VE GOT THAT.

ONCE YOU TURN 65, IF YOUR TAXES ARE WHAT THEY ARE TODAY OR WHATEVER, WHEN YOU'RE 65, THEY'RE THAT WAY UNTIL YOU MOVE OR PASS AWAY.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A LOCAL THING OR IF THAT NEEDS TO GO TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE OR WHATEVER, BUT IT WOULD BE A BEAUTIFUL THING. I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO BE TAXED OUT OF MY HOUSE.

I FEEL FORTUNATE I DON'T SEE THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

BUT WHERE DOES IT STOP? AND LIKE THIS LADY SAID PREVIOUS, WITH A $350,000 ON A HOMESTEAD THAT WON'T BUY A WHOLE LOT IN LENEXA. SO THINGS. SOME SYMPATHY OR SOME SORT OF INVESTIGATION OR HELP ON THAT WOULD BE DEFINITELY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU SIR.

YEP.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] IMPERIALE.

I LIVE ON 8227 HALSEY STREET. I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THIS COMMUNITY 20 YEARS AGO, IN 2 OR 3 MORE MONTHS. MY ANNIVERSARY. I HAVE ENJOYED ALL THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING HERE.

OF COURSE, THERE ARE SOME OTHERS THAT I AM A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE.

ALL THESE DEVELOPMENTS AND ALL THESE COMPANIES AND PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE SUBSIDIZED THROUGH THE CITY, AND THEY ENJOY ALL OUR COMMON AREAS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

TO KEEP IT SIMPLE, WHY DON'T YOU REVIEW THAT? WHY DON'T YOU START, MAYBE. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY KIND OF INCENTIVE THAT YOU GIVE FOR TAX SHELTER TO HAVE ALL THESE COMPANIES HERE, BUT I THINK THEY HAVE A GOOD CORPORATION INCOME THAT WE CAN JUST REVIEW CERTAIN THINGS AND NOT EXTEND CERTAIN GRATUITIES OR WHATEVER YOU CALL IT. MY ENGLISH IS MY FOURTH LANGUAGE, I'M SORRY.

HOWEVER I AM ONE OF THOSE, LIKE THE FIRST GENTLEMAN SAID, AND MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN HERE.

WE ARE ALL SENIORS, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN COMING TO THIS POST TO TALK ABOUT.

YOUNG PEOPLE. THEY'RE BUSY, STILL WORKING AT HOME, AND THEY ARE CHEWING THEIR FINGERS, NOT KNOWING WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH MAMA'S PROPERTY. THEY ARE NOT KNOWING, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO WHEN I DIE? BECAUSE I AM MORE CLOSE TO DIE THAN ANY OTHER PERSON, OF COURSE.

AND I STILL HAVE A MORTGAGE THAT JUST REACHED $99,000 NOT LONG AGO BECAUSE I AM A SINGLE MOTHER,

[00:45:01]

AND THEN I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH INCOME TO PUT MY CHILDREN TO COLLEGE, BUT THEY DID GRADUATE, AND THAT IS AN EFFORT THAT I NEEDED TO REFINANCE MY PROPERTY SIX YEARS BEFORE COVID, THEN BANG, COVID COMES AND THEN BANG, CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT AND NOW BANG, TAXES.

PLEASE DO SOMETHING. BE CREATIVE. NOT THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO EXPAND, NOT THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO INCREASE.

BUT HOLD DOWN ON US, THE SENIORS AND PLEASE APPLY THAT LAW OR WHATEVER THEY HAVE IN MISSOURI OR WHATEVER THEY HAVE IN MANY OTHER STATES THAT FOR SENIORS STOP COLLECTING THAT.

WE HAVE PUT A LOT OF MONEY IMPROVING OUR PROPERTIES AND KEEPING IT NICE AND MAKING A NICE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE, REVENUE NEUTRAL? OKAY.

BEFORE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, ACTUALLY GO AHEAD AND VOTE WHILE THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON REVENUE NEUTRAL BEFORE WE TAKE THAT ACTION? NO? GO AHEAD. WELL, OF COURSE I. NOT OF COURSE, BUT.

WE'VE GOT A GOOD BUDGET HERE, I THINK. I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR MONTHS AND WE HAPPENED TO GO OVER THE REVENUE NEUTRAL, BUT WE'VE GOT A GOOD BUDGET.

YOU HEAR, LIKE BECCY SAID, HOW THE RESIDENTS LOVE OUR SERVICES AND THE QUALITY OF THEM AND WHAT WE DO, AND IT'S, YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY IT BEFORE.

IT'S NOT JUST THAT THE RESIDENTS LIKE WHAT SERVICES WE PROVIDE.

WE DO IT CORRECTLY, AS JUDGED BY ALL OF THOSE ACCREDITATION ORGANIZATIONS. YOU DO IT SO THAT PEOPLE ENJOY IT AND LIKE IT, BUT YOU'RE DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY. AND SO WE HAVE A GOOD BUDGET AND IT GOES OVER THE REVENUE NEUTRAL.

AND I PREFER. THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE, EVEN THE ONES THAT WANT US TO HOLD IT. I PREFER THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE AND VOTE HERE AND MAKE THE DECISIONS HERE TO DECIDE WHAT A GOOD BUDGET IS AND NOT A GROUP OF PEOPLE 60 MILES AWAY IN TOPEKA.

I THINK WE ARE CLOSER TO. I MEAN, REVENUE NEUTRAL, NATE TELLS US DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR INFLATION, DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT.

AND SO WE'VE GOT NOW THE LADY THAT TALKED ABOUT HER MORTGAGE.

PARDON ME. AND REFINANCING. WHERE IS SHE? I'LL SHOW YOU MY MORTGAGE.

EACH AND EVERY TIME I HAD ONE OF MY THREE KIDS GOING TO COLLEGE.

YEAH, I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE AT. AND SO WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND HOMESTEAD, NATE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EDUCATE ME.

OKAY? YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EDUCATE ME. IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING FROM THE 1860S IN IN TOPEKA, YOU KNOW. SO THIS IS A GOOD BUDGET, AND I TRUST THE PEOPLE LOCAL ON THE NUMBERS MORE THAN OTHERS. THANK YOU, BILL. DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A HOMESTEAD ACT QUESTION? YEAH, JUST BRIEFLY. THE HOMESTEAD ACT IS A KANSAS STATE LAW, AND THE CAP AND ANY MAXIMUMS THAT ARE ESTABLISHED ARE ESTABLISHED BY BY STATE LAW, NOT BY LOCAL ORDINANCE. SO THAT'S NOT A CITY MATTER.

OKAY. IT'S A STATE LAW THAT THE LEGISLATURE WOULD HAVE TO PASS TO HOLD DOWN THE AMOUNT.

[00:50:02]

I DON'T THINK WE KNOW THAT. YEAH, I THINK THERE'S MULTIPLE CRITERIA, AND I'M CERTAINLY NO EXPERT IN IT BECAUSE IT'S A KANSAS STATE LAW.

OKAY. JULIE. YES, BECCY. THANK YOU FOR THAT STATE LAW THAT MAYBE KYLE WITH OUR BECCY, WITH OUR PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE THAT TAKES INTO THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME, YOUR AGE, YOUR DISABILITY, IF YOU'RE A VETERAN, YOUR INCOME, MAYBE WE LOOK AT THAT AND MAYBE THE HOMESTEAD GETS FACTORED IN SOME WAY. I DON'T KNOW, JUST SPITBALLING HERE, BUT THERE'S A TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT IF WE'RE ALL. YEAH, BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT THINGS ALL THE TIME, AND YOU BRING THEM TO US.

YOU WANT US TO LOOK INTO THIS? YEAH. AND THEN KYLE BRINGS US SOMETHING.

SO I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO DO THAT. WE'LL GET MORE INFORMATION ON THAT FOR YOU.

THANK YOU. YEAH, CHELSEA. ACTUALLY, I JUST WANTED TO AGREE WITH BILL.

I THINK I AGREE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO SOMETHING FURTHER TO EITHER EXPAND OUR REBATE PROGRAM OR TO LOOK INTO SOMETHING FOR SENIORS. SO I JUST WANTED TO SECOND THAT. OKAY.

OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON REVENUE NEUTRAL.

COURT? I REALLY APPRECIATED ALL THE COMMENTS TONIGHT.

I UNDERSTAND YOU KNOW, THE PLIGHT OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND WITH THE HOME VALUES GOING UP, YOU KNOW, WE DO ALL OF THESE GREAT THINGS IN OUR CITY TO MAKE OUR CITY THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE.

AND THE IMPACT OF THAT IS RISING PROPERTY VALUES, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE FIGURING OUT THAT THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE.

AND THERE'S A BALANCE THERE BETWEEN HOW WE WANT TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES, BUT ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU AREN'T PRICED OUT OF YOUR HOMES. SO WE'VE PUT TOGETHER THESE PROGRAMS LIKE THE REBATE, THE CITY REBATE TAX, BUT OUR CITY TAXES ARE, WHAT, 22% OF YOUR TOTAL PROPERTY VALUE? AND NOT TO SAY THAT THAT'S NOT SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT IS.

AND WHAT YOU GET FOR THAT IS A LOT. WE HAVE A GROWING CITY STILL AND SO EXCEEDING REVENUE NEUTRAL HAS TO HAPPEN TO JUST SERVICE THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE MOVING INTO OUR COMMUNITY. OUR BUDGET IS GOOD, AND I REALLY WANT TO APPLAUD THE STAFF FOR FINDING THAT EXTRA QUARTER MIL TO DROP THAT EVEN MORE THIS YEAR FROM WHAT WE INITIALLY PROJECTED.

AND I THINK THAT THAT SHOWS THAT WE ARE LISTENING.

WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE THINGS THAT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE IT FROM THE OUTSIDE, BUT WE DO ACT RESPONSIBLY WITH YOUR MONEY AND WANT TO DO RIGHT BY YOU. AND I THINK THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE FEEL THAT WE AREN'T IRRESPONSIBLE AND WE DO IT THE RIGHT WAY. AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THESE CORE VALUES AND THESE BUDGET PRINCIPLES IN PLACE.

AND SO I WANTED TO AGREE WITH BILL ABOUT THINGS BEING LOCAL HERE.

I ACTUALLY SAT IN ON A HEARING ABOUT THE HOMESTEAD WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO RAISE IT.

AND THERE WAS ARGUMENTS MADE BECAUSE IT'S A STATE LAW.

AND SO THE LINE CUT OFF FOR WHAT YOUR HOME VALUE IS ACROSS THE STATE.

THEY LOOK AT THE AVERAGE FOR THE STATE, BUT JOHNSON COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE THOSE SAME NUMBERS.

AND SO THERE WAS A LOT OF LEGISLATORS THAT WERE ARGUING FOR RAISING THAT UP, BECAUSE A $350,000 HOUSE IN JOHNSON COUNTY ISN'T A $350,000 HOUSE IN GREAT BEND. AND SO THAT'S WHERE THE DISCREPANCY WAS.

AND SO I DON'T THINK INITIALLY THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT RAISING IT.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED, BUT IT'S NOT.

WHEN YOU HAVE STATE LAWS LIKE THAT, THAT'S WHY HOME RULE AND LOCAL CONTROL IS IMPORTANT.

AND SO WHEN THEY MAKE LAWS LIKE THAT, IT'S NOT APPLES AND ORANGES.

AND SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CALL YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS AND TRY AND FIGHT FOR THAT, TOO.

I'LL TACK ON MY AGREEMENT WITH WITH BILL, CHELSEA AND COURTNEY WANTED HELP.

BASICALLY, FIGURE OUT HOW ELSE WE CAN ADMINISTER OR BOLSTER THE HOMESTEAD PROGRAM.

BECAUSE I APPRECIATE THE SQUEEZE THAT A LOT OF FOLKS SHARED THAT THEY'RE FEELING.

I'M FAR FROM RETIREMENT, BUT AS SOMEONE WHO'S ONLY OWNED A HOME FOR THREE YEARS, I CAN TELL YOU THOSE INCREASES IMPACT ME AS WELL.

AND FOR A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE EARLY CAREER OR YOUNGER AND FRESH HOMEOWNERS, THAT CAN BE A SHOCK AS WELL.

EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT HAVE MORE TIME OR MORE ABILITY TO GO OUT AND FIND A SECOND JOB OR A THIRD ONE FOR SOME OF MY PEERS,

[00:55:05]

IS THAT REALLY WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR YOUTH ALSO? AND SO I GUESS REALLY ALL I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT THAT WE'RE ALL FEELING IT AND THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO THIS IN A SMART WAY.

IF WE WERE TO SLASH SOMETHING, WE GO BACK TO THAT DOLLAR SIGN THAT WE SHOWED EARLIER OF WHAT WE GET OUT OF OUR TAX DOLLARS.

WHAT DO WE START SLASHING FIRST? IS IT PAVING THE ROADS? IS IT CLEARING THEM OF SNOW AND ICE? IS IT GETTING RID OF SOME OF THE PARKS? AND SO I THINK WE'RE DOING IT IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS US TO FLOAT DOWN TO REASONABLE VALUES.

AND TRYING TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE SLASHING SERVICES AT THE SAME TIME THAT.

ANYTHING THIS END? OKAY. I WOULD JUST ADD, YOU KNOW, AGREE WITH ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES AND WOULD JUST MAYBE ADD THAT WE LIVE IN THE SAME CITIES, OPERATE IN THE SAME WORLD THAT EVERYONE ELSE DOES, WHERE EVERYTHING IS GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE.

SO WE ALSO HAVE INCREASING IN COSTS IN ASPHALT, FUEL, PARTS, GRASS SEED, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING THAT WE BUY COMES FROM THE SAME WORLD AS EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL BUY. AND I BELIEVE THAT OUR STAFF HAS DONE A VERY MEASURED JOB OF TRYING TO KEEP THAT RATE OF INFLATION DOWN.

THEY ARE NOT OVERSPENDING ON THOSE THINGS, AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO BE INNOVATIVE IN THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE COMING BACK ON THE TAX ROLLS FROM OUR INCENTIVES.

YOU KNOW, THIS ADDITIONAL MILL ROLLBACK WAS SOME GOOD MATH ON OUR, YOU KNOW, STAFF PAY INCREASES.

SO WE DO HEAR ALL OF THIS FEEDBACK THAT YOU'VE ALL BEEN PROVIDING TO US FOR MONTHS.

WE DO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT. AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF BEING MEASURED IN CONTINUING OUR COMMITMENT TO REDUCING OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE, UNDERSTANDING THAT WHAT YOU GET BACK FOR IT IS SO MUCH MORE VALUABLE THAN WE CAN EVEN QUANTIFY WITH JUST THAT ONE FIGURE.

PEOPLE WANT TO BE HERE. THEY LIKE LENEXA, THEY WANT TO STAY HERE BECAUSE IT'S SPECIAL AND WE'RE BUILDING SOMETHING THAT LASTS AND THAT MATTERS.

SO CONTINUING TO TAKE THOSE MEASURED STEPS DOWN, WE FEEL IS A RESPONSIBLE WAY TO DO THIS RATHER THAN SORT OF A ARBITRARY RATE THAT WAS SET BY REPRESENTATIVES IN TOPEKA. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY, AGAIN, ARE NOT HERE SORT OF WORKING WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THAT BUDGET.

SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD CLOSE WITH. AND WE'LL TAKE A MOTION FOR ADOPTING THE RESOLUTION, LEVYING THE PROPERTY TAX RATE, EXCEEDING THE REVENUE NEUTRAL PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 25.142 MILLS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER HANDLEY. AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER EITERICH. COUNCIL MEMBER CHARLTON.

AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER NICKS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ARROYO.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMSON. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER DENNY.

AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER HERRON. AYE. MAYOR SAYERS.

AYE. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU, JENNIFER. ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE REVENUE NEUTRAL RATE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED ON REVENUE NEUTRAL.

ITEM NUMBER 5. SS CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET.

[5. Consideration of a resolution approving the fiscal year 2026 budget a. Public hearing to consider the fiscal year 2026 budget b. Resolution approving the fiscal year 2026 budget The Governing Body reviewed the fiscal year (FY) 2026 recommended budget at Committee of the Whole meetings held in June and July 2025 and received a budget update at the City Council meeting on August 19, 2025. The total recommended FY 2026 budget for all funds is $260.6 million and the estimated mill levy for the budget is 26.209 mills.]

ITEM 5.A. IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THAT BUDGET.

ITEM 5.B. IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET.

NATE, ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD TO THE PRIOR PRESENTATION? OKAY.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THE BUDGET ITSELF BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? OKAY. SAME AS LAST TIME. WE'LL ALLOW EACH PERSON TO SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES.

COMMENTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE GOVERNING BODY. WE'LL COLLECT YOUR QUESTIONS FOR THE END AND ADDRESS THOSE AS NEEDED.

AND I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE PRESENT WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET, PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM. SIGN IN AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

[INAUDIBLE], 8131 ROSEHILL ROAD. MY SPECIFIC CONCERNS RELATE TO THE POTENTIAL NEW FIRE STATION NUMBER SIX, DEMOLISHING FORMER CITY HALL AND BUILDING A NEW STATION.

AFTER QUESTIONING THE POSSIBILITY OF CO-LOCATING WITH MEDACT, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE SITE DID NOT MATCH UP WITH THE CITY'S ABILITY TO INITIATE THE STUDY, TO MASTER PLAN OUR CITY OWNED SITE AND LOOK AT CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS.

IN THINKING ABOUT NORTHEAST LENEXA, WHERE I HAVE LIVED FOR 23 YEARS, THIS IS AN OLDER AREA OF LENEXA AND HAS BEEN DEVELOPED FOR MANY YEARS,

[01:00:02]

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE TAX INCENTIVIZED APARTMENTS ALONG CAVEIRA.

WHY NOW, DO WE NEED A DEDICATED FIRE STATION, ONE THAT WOULD LIKELY BE MASSIVE.