The Unified Government Commission has approved a $296-million budget for 2015 which leaves the total city and county tax rate at the same level as this year.

The total KCK city and Wyandotte County property tax levy will remain at the current 82 mills. The budget increases the Wyandotte County property tax rate by 2 mills, while lowering the KCK City property tax rate by 2 mills. This action keeps the overall Unified Government tax rate at its current level of 82 mills, but creates more financial stability in the county budget and equitably shares the costs of countywide services among all Wyandotte County residents.

Even with a 2 mill increase in the county tax rate, Wyandotte County has one of the lowest county property tax rates in Kansas. Wyandotte County ranks 96^th out 105 Kansas counties. Only nine counties out of 105 have a lower county property tax.

The total Unified Government tax rate is a combination of the KCK property tax rate and the Wyandotte County property tax rate. The current Unified Government property rate is still much lower than before the city and county consolidated in 1997. Back then it was 97 mills. Today it's 82 mills. That's 16% less than a decade and a half ago.

The Proposed 2015 Unified Government Budget recommends total expenditures of $295,817,522. That's $1-million less than in 2014. The City general fund is budgeted at $136,374,355. The County general fund is proposed at $51,922,400.

"This budget proposal recommends a path to confront the difficult budget challenges facing the Unified Government next year, while still addressing many of the strategic goals and budget guidelines directed by the Unified Government Commission," said County Administer Doug Bach said.

Mayor Mark Holland said public safety; reducing the property mill levy; restoring fund balances and employee raises are all priorities for the Commission, but not all could be met given the still difficult financial situation facing the Unified Government.

"All of our priorities collided and we had to make the best decision we could," Holland said.

The 2015 Budget calls for efficiency studies of all Public Safety departments. Taxpayer spending on the Police, Sheriff and Fire departments has increased 40% over the past nine years while spending on all other UG departments has dropped.

"We have to find a way to curb these expenses," Holland said, adding those budget increases are not sustainable and will eventually threaten the ability to pay for public safety services.

"When we run out of money, not if we run out of money, but when, we will be forced to cut public safety services," Holland stated, stressing why finding efficiencies to save money is so important.

Decisions made by the Kansas Legislature continue to eliminate traditional, once reliable sources of revenue for the Unified Government and burden local taxpayers with added expenses. Despite positive improvements in the overall economy and major new developments in Wyandotte County, the Unified Government is losing tens of millions of dollars to pay for police, fire, streets and others services and programs because of the Kansas Legislature.

The decision in 2006 to eliminate the property tax on industrial machinery and equipment is costing the Unified Government $10-million a year in revenue. Since 2006, Wyandotte County has lost $130-million in assessed value from machinery and equipment. The decision to eliminate the machinery and equipment tax, while positive for business, continues to take a devastating toll on Unified Government revenues.

This year, the Kansas Legislature, pressured by community bankers and realtors, eliminated the mortgage registration fee which has been in place since 1925, shifting a financial cost from banks and homebuyers who take out mortgages, to all property taxpayers. The Unified Government will lose an estimated $500,000 in 2015 with annual losses growing to an estimated $1.8-million in five years.

While both measures passed overwhelmingly, the entire Wyandotte County Legislative Delegation opposed repeal of the Machinery and Equipment tax in 2006 and elimination of the Mortgage Registration Fee in 2014.

2015 Unified Government Budget Highlights

• The 2015 Proposed Budget does not call for major reductions in basic services.
• Continues the Commission Neighborhood Infrastructure Program (CNIP).
• Funds TV broadcasts of all Unified Government Commission meetings on UGTV.
• Spends $1-million for installation and operation of the new Countywide Emergency Radio system.
• Absorbs the operating costs of expanded transit routes.
• Funds studies of Public Safety operations to help determine additional efficiencies.
• Funds an employee compensation study.
• Recommends several initiatives to improve customer service.