With a September 7th public hearing on a nearly 55 mill levy increase and the city budget now set, the Manhattan City Commission has a lot of work to do in trying to determine what the final numbers will be.
Tuesday night, commissioners gave indications that they don’t want to see the mill levy increase reach that maximum mark.
One item putting the squeeze on the city budget is its commitments to the Riley County Police Department, which makes up the largest portion of the increase. That number, in fact, is larger than the increase for the city’s general fund.
Commissioner Mark Hatesohl expressed frustration at that reality.
Commissioner Linda Morse chairs the County Law Board.
In answering questions from Commissioner Usha Reddi, Deputy City Manager Jason Hilgers called upon recent history.
The resolution passed Tuesday night sets a maximum mill levy increase of 54.914, a number that cannot be exceeded when the budget is finalized this fall
