The Manhattan City Commission on Tuesday will consider a resolution to pass a budget that generates more revenue than last year’s.
Commissioners won’t approve a 2025 budget or mill levy at the meeting, according to city documents, but officials have said they intend to pass a 2025 budget that brings in more money. The state requires the city government to take certain steps to exceed the “revenue-neutral rate.”
The revenue-neutral rate is the tax rate for the current year that would generate the same property tax revenue as levied in the previous tax year using the current tax year’s total assessed valuation.
The city’s estimated Riley County valuation of $661.62 million increased by 4.2%, and the city’s Pottawatomie County valuation increased by 2.9%. Therefore the revenue-neutral rate for the 2025 budget is 47.1 mills. Meeting documents don’t give a proposed mill rate for the city.
The resolution must be adopted and delivered to the counties by July 19, or the 2025 budget cannot exceed the revenue-neutral rate. The commission can reduce this mill levy following the public hearing on Sept. 3 but cannot increase it beyond the levy indicated in the resolution.
On the general agenda, commissioners will consider approving an interlocal agreement with Kansas State University for a ground lease at 2000 Denison Ave. and provision of fire protection services to KSU.
Following that will be a discussion around several Aggieville items, including the approval of a relocation agreement with Evergy to bury overhead lines in the 1100 block alley between Moro Street and Laramie Street, along with possible consolidated trash program.
Back 9 Development representatives also will give an update on the Midtown and Handi-Corner construction projects.
The meeting takes place at 6 p.m. in City Hall at 1101 Poyntz Ave.
