> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.citizenjournal.us/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Ark City Commission Summary - URL: https://www.citizenjournal.us/ark-city-commission-summary-7/ - Published: 2026-07-21T10:26:47.000Z - Updated: 2026-07-21T10:26:47.000Z - Description: Week of July 16, 2026 - Author: Cronkite - Tags: avcj, #summary, dnn # City commission adopts revenue-neutral rate for upcoming budget # More than $850,000 trimmed to balance revenue-neutral budget # Voter mandates to "fix downtown" influence tax rate decision # Commissioners warn of inevitable tax hikes in coming years # City's $500,000 emergency reserve deemed insufficient # Commission denies cost-of-living adjustment for city employees # Proposed 1 percent employee raise would have cost city $83,000 # Taxpayers spared $10 annual hike following commission's budget vote # Arkansas City trails surrounding municipalities in employee pay increases # Recent compensation upgrades weighed against wage freeze --- ### City commission adopts revenue-neutral rate for upcoming budget ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Arkansas City Commission voted Wednesday to maintain the revenue-neutral rate for the city's upcoming budget, opting not to raise property taxes. The resolution, passed during a special noon meeting, officially notifies Cowley County Clerk Karen Madison of the city's intent to keep the property tax levy flat. The decision was made under a tight administrative deadline, as the city was required to submit its budget intentions to the county by the following Tuesday. --- ### More than $850,000 trimmed to balance revenue-neutral budget ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — To avoid raising property taxes, Arkansas City slashed more than $850,000 from its upcoming budget. According to Finance Director Jennifer Waggoner, the cost-saving measures primarily targeted external agencies and equipment purchases. While no current personnel were laid off, the city eliminated all requests for new staff positions to successfully hit the revenue-neutral target. --- ### Voter mandates to "fix downtown" influence tax rate decision ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — Campaign promises weighed heavily on the commission's decision to freeze property taxes on Wednesday. During the meeting, discussion centered on recent elections and the clear mandate from constituents to avoid raising taxes and to focus municipal efforts on revitalizing the downtown area. This feedback made it incredibly difficult for the commission to support a tax increase, even to fund city employee raises. --- ### Commissioners warn of inevitable tax hikes in coming years ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — While the Arkansas City Commission successfully maintained a revenue-neutral budget for the upcoming year, officials warned residents that tax increases are on the horizon. During budget deliberations, commissioners acknowledged that rising operational costs, employee compensation needs and persistent inflation will likely force the city to exceed the revenue-neutral rate and raise property taxes within the next three to four years. --- ### City's $500,000 emergency reserve deemed insufficient ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — Arkansas City's $500,000 general emergency reserve fund is too low to comfortably cover unexpected operational expenses, according to Finance Director Jennifer Waggoner. Much of the reserve is currently utilized for cash carryover to ensure bills are paid before tax draw revenues arrive in late January. The discussion followed a recent accident involving a city front-end loader, highlighting the constant, unbudgeted pressures placed on the city's general fund. --- ### Commission denies cost-of-living adjustment for city employees ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — City employees will not receive a cost-of-living adjustment next year after the commission opted to maintain a flat budget. Human Resources Director Marla McFarland urged commissioners to consider a raise, citing high inflation and concerns over employee turnover and morale. However, the commission ultimately decided against the measure, prioritizing property tax relief for residents. --- ### Proposed 1 percent employee raise would have cost city $83,000 ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — Providing a modest 1 percent cost-of-living adjustment for Arkansas City employees would have required approximately $83,000 in additional budget expenditures. Commissioners deliberated at length over whether to allocate funds for the raise, but ultimately decided that keeping the budget revenue-neutral took precedence over expanding the municipal payroll. --- ### Taxpayers spared $10 annual hike following commission's budget vote ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — Exceeding the revenue-neutral rate to fund a 1 percent employee pay raise would have cost the average Arkansas City homeowner roughly $10.14 a year. Finance officials stated that the $83,000 required for the wage increase would have increased the mill levy by less than one mill, or roughly $10.14 a year on a home appraised at $100,000\. Commissioners opted to spare residents the extra cost, acknowledging that citizens are heavily burdened by the current economy. --- ### Arkansas City trails surrounding municipalities in employee pay increases ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — Arkansas City is an outlier among regional municipalities in its decision to freeze employee cost-of-living pay. During Wednesday's meeting, human resources staff presented data showing comparable Kansas municipalities — including Derby, Winfield and Leavenworth — are offering cost-of-living adjustments ranging from 1 percent to 4.5 percent and choosing to exceed their revenue-neutral rates. Osawatomie was the only other city cited in the survey that maintained its revenue-neutral rate. --- ### Recent compensation upgrades weighed against wage freeze ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — In defending the decision to deny a cost-of-living raise, Arkansas City commissioners highlighted other recent benefits previously granted to city staff. Commissioners noted that the vast majority of personnel received a pay bump following the implementation of a new compensation study, and employees were recently granted the day off before holidays. Officials argued these measures have already heavily impacted municipal funds. --- [Click here for local obituaries](https://cjus.me/avcj-obit?ref=citizenjournal.us) [Click here for local jail logs](https://cjus.me/avcj-jail?ref=citizenjournal.us) --- --- Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below: [Contact Us](https://www.citizenjournal.us/contact/) --- [![Job Board](https://rosebud-ads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/JOB.png)](https://gregl72.github.io/job/?ref=citizenjournal.us)