The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas wants your help with next year’s budget. After cutting services last year in order to not raise the tax burden, officials are holding public meetings where residents can share what matters most to them.
The first budget meeting took place March 13 and served as a refresher for last year’s budget but seven more meetings are scheduled where residents can attend in person or watch from home.
“Understanding the current state of Unified Government financials and our work to address fiscal sustainability is crucial for informed community participation,” said Krystal McFeders, Public Information Officer for the Unified Government.
Last year’s budget kept property tax revenue the same as the year before, even though property values went up. This approach, called a “revenue neutral rate,” meant the UG collected the same amount of money from property taxes as the year before, despite rising prices.
This meant cuts to important services that many residents rely on. According to workshop documents, the 2025 revenue-neutral budget eliminated 61 positions and required departments to reduce operational costs while maintaining contractual pay increases for employees.
The cuts were noticeable for many. Two bus routes were eliminated – the 118 on 18th Street and the 113 on Leavenworth Road – affecting approximately 56,000 rides annually. The Parks Department had to reduce staff, impacting community centers and park maintenance.
Fire Department overtime was cut by $3 million, affecting how many firefighters are available during emergencies. Police Department cuts reduced crime prevention efforts. The Sheriff’s Office also had to reduce overtime by almost half.
Upcoming UG Budget Workshops
Municipal Office Building at 701 N. 7th St., KCK
All meetings at 5 p.m.
- April 10
- April 24
- May 15
- May 29 (public hearing follows at 7 p.m.)
- June 12
- June 26
- Aug 14
Additionally, the UG plans to hold two “DotteTalks” in April – special informal community conversations about budget priorities. Dates for these more informal meetings will be announced soon.
The community will have the opportunity to provide on-the-record comments regarding the proposed 2026 budget during the May 29 full commission public hearing beginning at 7 p.m. After gathering input and feedback the County Administrator will present the proposed 2026 budget Aug. 7, at 5 p.m. in the Municipal Office Building.
You don’t have to attend in person to participate. Zoom links are available and all meetings will be shown live on the UG YouTube page and on UGTV-channel 2 if you have Spectrum cable.
For more information about the budget process or to see detailed budget information, visit the government’s website at wycokck.org/budget. To find meeting details and agendas, go to wycokck.org/clerk.
