By ROD ZOOK
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission will once again discuss the 2023 budget during its regular meeting on Tuesday.
Like most government entities, the county is going to declare that it will exceed the revenue-neutral rate for the coming year. What happens after that is still to be discussed as the county can always lower the budget, but not raise it once it has settled on a number. County Administrator Randy Partington has said in the past, and indicated again Friday, that to hit the revenue-neutral rate, the county will have to make some tough decisions.
“We would be able to hit the revenue-neutral rate, but that would take some one-time cuts, some capital items, and cash balances,” Partington said. “I believe the county commission would be able to take the mill levy that's flat . . . and reduce it below that and get somewhere in between.”
The commission has been somewhat mixed on whether it can, or even should, try to hit revenue neutral. It would mean cutting more than $1.35 million from the budget.
“They would probably be more comfortable with that than I would be with that,” Partington said. “If that’s the decision they want to make, we would still be able to operate.”
Partington says that the present economy could also put more pressure on the budget if inflation doesn’t ease.
“If inflation continues, at 8% or 9% or whatever it is right now, then it makes it harder in future years,” Partington said.
Partington will present a budget of $81.77 million on levied taxes of $26.67 million. That would leave the mill levy at 39.475, a fraction less than last year. The revenue-neutral rate would be 37.486.
Tuesday’s meeting of the Reno County Commission begins at 9 a.m. at the Reno County Courthouse.
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