> ## 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-24/ - Published: 2026-10-21T12:44:01.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-21T12:44:01.000Z - Description: Week of October 21, 2026 - Author: Cronkite - Tags: Topeka, #summary, dnn # City manager resigns unexpectedly following executive session # Council appoints acting, interim city managers # Council approves March election for affordable housing, homelessness sales tax # Special election price tag prompts lone dissenting vote # City plans citizen committee to oversee potential homeless tax revenue # Citizens to vote on independent city auditor position # Officials warn of sales tax revenue shortfalls # City to use $3 million less in reserve funds than budgeted # City prepares for potential half-cent sales tax measure in August --- ### City manager resigns unexpectedly following executive session TOPEKA, Kan. — The Topeka Governing Body unanimously accepted the immediate resignation of City Manager Robert Perez following a late-night executive session Tuesday. The council voted to suspend its standard rules to take the unscheduled action, approving a separation agreement between the city and Perez in a 9-0 vote. Mayor Spencer Duncan released a public statement confirming the departure was a personnel transition that "does not involve any issues of wrongdoing," though the city has not publicly detailed the specific reasons behind Perez's sudden departure or the terms of the separation. --- ### Council appoints acting, interim city managers TOPEKA, Kan. — To fill the leadership void left by Perez's resignation, the council unanimously appointed Deputy City Manager Braxton Copley to serve as acting city manager. Simultaneously, the governing body authorized the city attorney to negotiate an employment agreement with Michael Webb to take over as the city's interim city manager. Webb, who is expected to assume the role beginning Oct. 26, is a veteran municipal administrator with more than three decades of experience and previously served as the city manager of Edwardsville, Kansas, from 2007 to 2023. --- ### Council approves March election for affordable housing, homelessness sales tax TOPEKA, Kan. — Voters will decide the fate of a proposed 0.1 percent citywide sales tax dedicated to affordable housing and homeless services in a March 2, 2027, special election. The council voted 8-1 to place the measure on the ballot, which, if approved by taxpayers, would generate approximately $4 million annually. The revenue would be split evenly between the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund and various evidence-based homeless initiatives, including outreach, rental assistance and operating costs. --- ### Special election price tag prompts lone dissenting vote TOPEKA, Kan. — The estimated $155,000 cost to host the March special election prompted one council member to cast the lone dissenting vote against the affordable housing sales tax measure. The dissenting member argued the stand-alone election costs were too high for the cash-strapped city to absorb. However, the rest of the council supported the measure, arguing that proactive investments in homelessness prevention would ultimately save taxpayer money currently being spent on emergency responses and camp cleanups. --- ### City plans citizen committee to oversee potential homeless tax revenue TOPEKA, Kan. — In conjunction with the proposed 0.1 percent sales tax, city officials announced plans to draft an ordinance creating a citizen-led Homeless Services Committee. Modeled after the city's existing Affordable Housing Trust Fund review committee, the new board would be tasked with reviewing evidence-based homeless initiatives and making formal funding recommendations to the council to ensure the new tax revenues are spent responsibly and transparently. --- ### Citizens to vote on independent city auditor position TOPEKA, Kan. — A second question will appear on the March 2027 ballot asking voters to approve a charter ordinance establishing an independent city auditor. The council unanimously approved placing the measure on the ballot, which would amend the city's charter to require the new auditor to report directly to the governing body rather than the city manager. Council members stated the position would focus on routine performance audits to increase financial oversight and operational efficiency across all city departments. --- ### Officials warn of sales tax revenue shortfalls TOPEKA, Kan. — City officials warned of a looming financial hurdle as local sales tax revenues continue to trail behind the previous year's 2025 collections. Deputy Director of Budget and Finance Josh McInarty reported that sales tax collections are projected to fall roughly $700,000 short of budget expectations for the 2026 fiscal year. The official warned that the lower collections reduce the base for future projections, forcing the city to closely monitor and likely adjust its previously assumed 1.25 percent revenue growth rate for the upcoming fiscal years. --- ### City to use $3 million less in reserve funds than budgeted TOPEKA, Kan. — Despite the sales tax shortfall, the city is projected to end the 2026 fiscal year in a better overall financial position than initially feared, requiring only $4 million from its reserve funds to balance the books. This represents a $3 million improvement over the $7 million originally budgeted for fiscal year 2026\. The savings will leave the city with a projected year-end fund balance of nearly $29 million. --- ### City prepares for potential half-cent sales tax measure in August TOPEKA, Kan. — While the council focused Tuesday on the 0.1 percent housing tax, city administration signaled plans to pursue an additional half-cent general purpose sales tax during the August 2027 primary election. The proposed future tax, which would generate an estimated $20 million annually, is being designed to address a projected $13.3 million operational deficit in 2028 and potentially cash-fund the relocation of three city fire stations. --- [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? 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