Garnett City Commissioners will submit a 2026 budget to city residents at a public hearing on Tuesday, August 26th, that proposes $1.5 million in extra spending for the coming year, but manages to hold its mill levy barely below the revenue neutral rate as defined by Kansas law. The budget hearing, set for Tuesday at 6:00 at Garnett City Hall, will give the public an opportunity to question commissioners on various elements of the budget and spending plans.
Overall the budget calls for a general spending plan of $17 million, up from $15.5 in 2025. The new budget places an extra $762,000 into the city’s general fund for equipment reserve, various insurance and personnel benefits. The majority of those expenditures is paid by user fees and the cities utility revenues, with local property tax funds amounting to only $1.2 million of the $17 million overall spending proposal. The property tax portion of the 2026 budget actually reflects a $27 reduction over taxes set to be used in 2025. The city’s revenue neutral rate was established as 34.647 for this year.
