The city of Wichita has presented its 2023 proposed operating budget and 10-year capital improvement plan.
Next year's proposed budget totals $624,227,999, an increase of $24 million from 2022. The city's mill levy will stay at 32.758 mills for the 29th year in a row. That means the city will collect $139,120,378 in property taxes. Last year, the property tax collections totaled $129,163,621.
Thanks to changes in state tax laws, if a city's adopted budget has property taxes that are greater than the prior year, that city must notify the county clerk prior to July 20 of its intent to exceed the "Revenue Neutral Rate", or RNR, for the mill levy.
One highlight of next year's budget is $9 million earmarked for safety enhancements to Century II, with another $9 million through 2032. Over the next 10 years, the CIP includes $31 million to build 3 new police stations, $45 million for 9 new fire stations and $141 million for city streets.
Other improvements include $26.7 million for construction of the West Street corridor, investments in biking and walk paths, and renovations to four branch libraries: Alford, Angelou, Rockwell and Westlink.
The city says ARPA funding will help stabilize the budget through 2024, but difficulties could arise afterwards.
The next budget hearing will take place Thursday evening, August 4th. There will be another during the regular Tuesday, August 16 meeting, with adoption of the budget set for the following Tuesday the 23.
