News

Warden explains budget cuts and need to raise levy

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

Before a split ruling to approve the Fiscal Year 2026 budget and a hike of 13.384 in Seward County’s mill levy, citizens were allowed to come to the mic to voice concerns over the increase and other matters, but prior to that, Administrator April Warden addressed some issues, namely how the county arrived at Monday’s public hearing.

With the state’s Revenue Neutral Rate, a rate expressed in mill levies by which a government entity would collect the same amount of revenue as the previous year, entities are required to have a public hearing between Aug. 20 and Sept. 20 if they intend to exceed the RNR for the upcoming fiscal year.

McClain Delaney introduces legislation to safeguard farmer privacy and protect USDA data

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

The importance of safeguarding important personal information, especially for farmers, cannot be understated. Recently, Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (D-MD) introduced some legislation to help with just that.

Last week, McClain Delaney introduced the Protecting Agricultural Borrower Information Act, which would prevent the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing Americans’ most sensitive financial information under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

By 3-2 vote, county votes to approve 13.384 mill increase

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

Seward County commissioners narrowly passed a budget for Fiscal Year 2026 Monday that included an increase of 13.384 mills over the Revenue Neutral Rate, the mill levy rate needed to collect the same amount of revenue as the previous fiscal year.

The vote of 3-2, with commissioners Steve Helm and Todd Stanton voting “no,” came after county officials lowered what they had given in a letter to property owners of a worst case scenario of raising the county’s mill levy by about 29 mills.

That number was derived from an ongoing Board of Tax Appeals case with Conestoga Energy in which the current payback asked for is nearly $6 million.

Martinez wins Miss SW Heritage crown

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

This year’s Southwest Community Fiesta festivities took place this weekend, and a major part of the festivities was the crowning of the new Miss Southwest Heritage.

Sofia Martinez ultimately ended up with the crown Saturday evening, and she said she was very excited to receive the honor.

Baeza makes sure Seward County is ready for health emergencies

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Preparedness Month has been celebrated since 2004, and the month is a great time to take small steps to make a big difference in being prepared.

Locally, Christina Baeza, the public health emergency preparedness coordinator and marketing coordinator at the Seward County Health Department, has been helping residents plan for emergencies for four years.

A Liberal native, Baeza has a bachelor’s degree in business from Fort Hays State University, and before coming to SCHD, she has owned businesses in the community. In addition to her responsibilities with the health department, she is co-owner of an event business in the Southgate Mall.