> ## 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. # Topeka City Council Summary - URL: https://www.citizenjournal.us/topeka-city-council-summary-18/ - Published: 2026-08-26T12:19:28.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-26T12:19:28.000Z - Description: Week of August 26, 2026 - Author: Cronkite - Tags: tcj, #summary, dnn # Council unanimously votes to exceed city revenue neutral rate # Five-year forecast projects massive structural deficit for Topeka # City manager proposes half-cent sales tax for general government # Proposed housing sales tax could generate $4 million annually # City cuts 49 positions to balance 2027 budget # Proposal outlines long-term reduction of 100 city jobs through attrition # Topeka Metro officially ends expensive micro-transit service # Transit authority tests electric buses amid technological hurdles # City considers $8 million replacement for heavy-duty fleet garage --- ### Council unanimously votes to exceed city revenue neutral rate TOPEKA, Kan. — The Topeka City Council unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday to exceed the city's revenue neutral rate for the 2027 budget, establishing a maximum property tax rate of 37.126 mills. While the mill levy remains unchanged from the previous year, the city will collect more total property tax revenue due to a 3 percent increase in property valuations. During the meeting, it was emphasized that the city has not raised its mill levy in 15 years and has even reduced it recently, though it was acknowledged that property taxes place a strain on residents amid rising municipal costs for public safety and infrastructure. A final vote to adopt the budget and mill levy is scheduled for Sept. 15. --- ### Five-year forecast projects massive structural deficit for Topeka TOPEKA, Kan. — A five-year financial forecast presented to the council revealed the city faces a looming structural deficit that could reach $13.3 million in 2028 and swell to nearly $23 million by 2031\. Deputy Budget and Finance Director Josh McAnarney reported that flat sales tax collections and stagnant franchise fees, coupled with steadily rising personnel costs, mean current revenues no longer cover general fund expenses. The city has relied on cash reserves to balance recent budgets, a practice officials warn is unsustainable without substantial revenue increases or severe service reductions. --- ### City manager proposes half-cent sales tax for general government TOPEKA, Kan. — To combat the city's projected budget shortfall, City Manager Robert Perez proposed a half-cent general government sales tax initiative for a potential March 2027 special election. The tax, which would raise the city's overall rate from 9.35 percent to 9.85 percent, would generate approximately $20 million annually. Perez said the revenue would fund essential services — including police, fire, public works and code enforcement — and support debt service payments for major capital improvement projects, mitigating the need to slash core public safety services. --- ### Proposed housing sales tax could generate $4 million annually TOPEKA, Kan. — Alongside the general government tax, City Manager Robert Perez recommended placing a one-tenth of a cent sales tax on the March 2027 ballot dedicated entirely to housing initiatives. The tax would generate roughly $4 million a year, splitting the revenue evenly between the city's affordable housing trust fund and a new market-rate housing fund. Perez noted the market-rate fund would provide upfront cash incentives to developers, allowing the city to immediately realize property tax increases on new developments rather than utilizing traditional incentives that defer local tax collections. --- ### City cuts 49 positions to balance 2027 budget TOPEKA, Kan. — The city has effectively removed 49 positions from its 2027 budget to save approximately $3.4 million amid stagnant revenue growth. City Manager Robert Perez confirmed the city froze 32 vacant general fund positions, including several roles in the police and fire departments, and permanently eliminated 17 other roles across various departments. The cuts were implemented to help balance the 2027 budget without a mill levy increase, though officials warn that further personnel reductions may be necessary in the coming years if new revenue streams are not secured. --- ### Proposal outlines long-term reduction of 100 city jobs through attrition TOPEKA, Kan. — A proposal was introduced detailing a long-term goal of reducing the city's workforce by 100 employees over the next five years through natural attrition and technological improvements, avoiding mass layoffs. While proponents argued the reduction is a necessary step for achieving structural financial balance, council members pushed back against the idea. Concerns were raised during the meeting that outsourcing specialized roles like engineering often costs the city significantly more than retaining in-house staff. --- *\[STORY REMOVED — "Council approves exceeding transit authority revenue neutral rate in split vote": This story was cut due to multiple unresolved issues. Three council members are referred to only as "a council member" with no actual names, making the story unpublishable. The vote breakdown (6-2 with one abstention) also does not account for the full membership of the governing body. If names can be confirmed, this story should be restored.\]* --- ### Topeka Metro officially ends expensive micro-transit service TOPEKA, Kan. — The Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority has officially discontinued its micro-transit service, known as the MOD, citing exorbitant operating costs. TMTA representatives told the council Tuesday that the on-demand service was costing the agency over $100 per trip, compared to just $6 to $8 per trip for standard fixed-route buses. While daily operations ceased in May to generate immediate budget savings, transit officials are keeping the MOD app and framework intact as a potential backup to address route disruptions caused by ongoing highway construction. --- ### Transit authority tests electric buses amid technological hurdles TOPEKA, Kan. — The Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority is currently testing four new 35-foot electric buses, though the rollout has been slowed by technological challenges. TMTA officials reported encountering issues with bad battery packs and unfamiliar warranty repairs and noted concerns about battery performance degrading significantly in cold weather. The agency aims to resolve the technical bugs and have all four buses fully operational before winter, utilizing onboard diesel warming systems to pre-heat the batteries and preserve their charge during cold mornings. --- ### City considers $8 million replacement for heavy-duty fleet garage TOPEKA, Kan. — City officials are evaluating an estimated $8 million replacement for Topeka's heavy-duty fleet garage on Crane Street, which services large vehicles like dump trucks and snowplows. Public works staff explained the 1980s-era steel building is well past its useful life, suffering from severe rust and structural degradation due to its proximity to a city salt dome. The current facility also lacks adequate clearance for modern heavy-duty vehicles, leaving equipment with mere inches of space and prompting the need for a new masonry and steel structure in the upcoming Capital Improvement Plan. --- [Click here for local obituaries](https://cjus.me/tcj-obit?ref=citizenjournal.us) [Click here for local jail logs](https://cjus.me/tcj-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)