Board of County Commissioners Approve 2024 Budgets

(Sedgwick County, Kan.) – To reduce property taxes for constituents, the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) today approved a 2024 budget for Sedgwick County Government that lowers the property tax levy by $2,379,493 and reduces the mill levy from 29.37 in the Recommended Budget to 29.00 mills. Commissioners also approved the 2024 budget for Fire District 1 without raising the mill levy.

Together, these budgets continue to enhance the county workforce through improved compensation, work environment and training. They also provide increased mental health resources and strengthen Sedgwick County’s infrastructure. Some budget highlights include:

• $22.7 million increase in employee compensation:
  • 2% pay scale adjustment, plus step increases for Sheriff’s Office and EMS
  • New pay plan for SCFD 1 to improve retention and recruitment
  • Compensation adjustment for many General pay plan employees
  • 3% pay adjustment for all other County employees
• 13 additional Full-Time Employees (FTE) in key positions, including:
  • 3 - Elections Office
  • 2 - Appraiser’s Office
  • 2 – Fire District #1
  • 5 – Corrections
  • 1 – 911 Emergency Communications
  • 1 – Regional Forensic Science Center
  • 1 – EMS, with return to 2-paramedic ambulance crews
  • 1 – Fleet Maintenance
  • 5 – Finance
• 21.7 FTE positions eliminated, including:
  • 8.5 – ARPA/COVID-related
• $6.6 million for facility upkeep and improvements
• $760 thousand in flood control and drainage projects
• Continued road and bridge improvements
• $1 million for mental health contingency fund 

The 2024 Adopted Budget for Sedgwick County Government totals $518,464,784, with an estimated property tax rate of 29 mills, and $27,735,225 for Sedgwick County Fire District 1, with an estimated property tax rate of 17.889 mills. Together, the budgets total $546,200,009.

 “Commissioners, along with Sedgwick County leadership, worked hard to hold the line on spending while also providing needed improvements to staffing, pay and planning for the future,” said Pete Meitzner, BoCC Chairman. “I’m proud we were able to lower the mill levy and reduce property taxes for residents.”

 The budget was approved after two in-person public hearings on Aug. 2 and Aug. 23, 2023. The 2024 budget will take effect on Jan. 1.