ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
The Liberal City Commission will have a somewhat light agenda for its next regular meeting this evening starting at 5:30. Tonight’s meeting will be in the commission chambers in the Liberal Recreation Center at 950 S. Grant Ave.
Up first for the commission will be discussion of the Revenue Neutral Rate, beginning with a public hearing.
“The City of Liberal was notified by Seward County in June 2024 that our 2025 Budget Revenue Neutral Rate was 50.367 mills. Through our 2025 budget discussions, we anticipate our budget will include 53.078 mills,” the agenda information noted. “Resolution No. 2416 was adopted at the commission’s July 9 meeting for our intent to levy a property tax in excess of the Revenue Neutral Rate. The Seward County Clerk was notified of our intent July 10. The City's 2025 Notice of Hearing to Not Exceed Revenue Neutral Rate was published in the High Plains Daily Leader & Times Aug.15. The City's 2024 Budget included 53.288 mills with a tax levy of $6,932,801, and the 2025 Budget includes an estimate of 53.078 mills with a tax levy of $7,438,118. Due to the increase in 2025 valuation over that of 2024, an additional $505,317 of property tax dollars would be generated at the 53.078 mill rate. The quantity of estimated 2025 mills is subject to change, dependent upon the final assessed valuation in November. Staff recommends the review of this information with the input of taxpayers in attendance, followed by the approval of Resolution No. 2419.”
The commission will then be asked to go ahead and approve the aforementioned Resolution No. 2419.
“WHEREAS, the Revenue Neutral Rate for the City of Liberal was calculated as 50.367 mills by the Seward County Clerk; and WHEREAS, the budget proposed by the governing body of the City of Liberal will require the levy of a property tax rate exceeding the Revenue Neutral Rate; and WHEREAS, the governing body held a hearing Aug. 27, 2024, allowing all interested taxpayers desiring to be heard an opportunity to give oral testimony; and WHEREAS, the governing body of the City of Liberal, having heard testimony, still finds it necessary to exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate,” the agenda information noted. “Be it resolved by the governing body of the City of Liberal, Seward County Kansas: The City of Liberal shall levy a property tax rate exceeding the Revenue Neutral Rate of 50.367 mills for the Budget Year 2025. This resolution shall take effect and be in force immediately upon its adoption and shall remain in effect until future action is taken by the governing body.”
Up next for the commission will be asked to approve a Memorandum of Understanding for a water agreement with Apex, which allows for the sale of reclaimed water from the City’s wastewater treatment plant to Toro Green Fuels, LLC, a private entity, engaged in renewable energy development.
“WHEREAS, Toro entered into a water purchase agreement with the City of Liberal, a Kansas municipal corporation, dated effective Aug. 27, 2024, for the purchase and acquisition of water and covering certain real property located in the City of Liberal, as more particularly evidenced and described on Exhibit A attached hereto; and WHEREAS, on the 27th day of August 2024, the Liberal City Commission put forth and voted upon this memorandum and duly authorized the City Manager and City Mayor to execute the same and further negotiate and execute the agreement; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the agreement, Toro desires, plans and intends to use the water, together with all the rights, titles and interests appurtenant to such water that are necessary or useful in order to find, protect, produce, sever, save, care for, measure, store, treat or transport water and such that Toro may have full use, management, and enjoyment of the water as toro deems fit, reasonable, and necessary,” the agenda information noted. “Now, therefore, Toro hereby files for record this Memorandum, evidencing Toro’s respective rights under the agreement, and to serve as notice of such rights and plans for the current and future use of the water.”
To conclude the meeting, the commission will be asked to complete its annual approval of the Liberal City Bus Title VI.
