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Lindsborg – Week of July 8

Tax Increase Considered; Library Seeks Funding; Aging Tree Canopy; New Administrator; Transformer Purchased

Greg Loving

08 Jul 2025 • 4 min read

City Signals Potential Property Tax Increase

Lindsborg Library Seeks 13% Funding Increase

Report Reveals City’s Tree Canopy Is “Over-Matured”

New City Administrator Set to Be Appointed

Recent Power Outage Prompts Transformer Purchase

1. City Signals Potential Property Tax Increase

LINDSBORG - The Lindsborg City Council has taken the first official step toward a potential property tax increase for the 2026 budget year. The council voted to file a “notice of intent to exceed the revenue neutral rate” with the county clerk. This procedural move is required by state law if a city’s proposed budget will collect more total property tax revenue than the previous year. Finance Director David Hay explained that the current draft budget is being developed with a mill levy of 55.874, which is higher than the calculated revenue neutral rate of 53.874. Council members noted that while individual property valuations have risen significantly, the revenue neutral rate barely changed, a point of discussion during the meeting. This action does not finalize the budget, but it preserves the city’s ability to adopt a budget above the neutral rate later this year. Public hearings on the proposed budget will be held in September.

2. Lindsborg Library Seeks 13% Funding Increase

LINDSBORG - The Lindsborg Community Library is requesting an $18,000 increase for the 2026 budget. Librarian Suzanna Swenson presented the proposal, asking for a total of $151,500, up from the $133,500 approved for 2025. Swenson noted the increase is necessary to meet rising costs and demand for materials and services. The requested funding would bring spending on payroll and library materials closer to best-practice recommendations. Swenson also updated the council that the library’s current building expansion project is on schedule and should be completed by the end of July.

3. Report Reveals City’s Tree Canopy Is “Over-Matured”

LINDSBORG - A new city-wide tree inventory reveals that Lindsborg’s urban forest is “over-matured” and in need of diverse new plantings to ensure its future health. Kody Kraemer, a community forester with the Kansas Forest Service, presented the findings from the 2024 inventory, which identified 83 distinct tree species on city streets and in parks. The report highlighted that, like many Kansas communities, Lindsborg has a large population of aging trees, such as Siberian elm, silver maple and hackberry, that are nearing the end of their lifespan. The report recommends a focus on planting a diversity of new, younger trees — including native and adaptable species — to replace the old ones and improve the canopy’s age diversity.

4. New City Administrator Set to Be Appointed

LINDSBORG - Lindsborg is preparing to officially welcome its new City Administrator, Tanner Faust. The mayor announced that Mr. Faust has already spent a couple of evenings in the city over the past 10 days and is “very, very excited about being here.” Faust’s official appointment to the position is scheduled to take place at the next council meeting.

5. Recent Power Outage Prompts Transformer Purchase

LINDSBORG - Following a recent widespread power outage, the City Council approved the purchase of two new transformers for a total of $49,575 to bolster the city’s electrical infrastructure. The emergency action was prompted by the failure of a transformer on June 30 that affected 140 meters and was difficult to resolve. Public Works staff explained that the city has a limited stock of large, three-phase transformers and no spares at all for certain locations. Without a spare on hand, a similar failure could result in an outage of 24 hours or more while staff attempts to borrow a unit from a neighboring municipality. The approved purchases will replace the failed unit and add a much-needed backup to the city’s inventory.

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