City council approves flat $417.8 million budget for 2027

City considers new sales tax to combat looming deficits

Council adopts four-year utility rate model

City officials address widespread road construction delays

City prepares for potential annexation of proposed data center

City announces plans to end school resource officer contract with USD 501

City cautious on subsidizing new KBI headquarters

New commission to finalize Topeka fire services plan

Mayor's office to host open office hours at City Hall

1. City council approves flat $417.8 million budget for 2027

TOPEKA, Kan. - The Topeka City Council has approved a $417.8 million all-funds budget for 2027, marking a minimal 0.22 percent increase from the 2026 fiscal year. After facing a significant gap between projected costs and available revenue, city leaders made roughly $10 million in reductions without laying off employees. Officials noted the city's mill levy remains flat for the 15th consecutive year, though they cautioned that rising property valuations may still increase individual property tax bills.

2. City considers new sales tax to combat looming deficits

TOPEKA, Kan. - City leaders are considering placing a new sales tax on the ballot next spring or summer to address projected budget deficits of $13.3 million in 2028 and $17.4 million in 2029. City Manager Robert Perez proposed a half-cent general government use tax to sustain the budget for the next five years, alongside an additional one-tenth of a cent tax dedicated to affordable housing and homelessness programs. If advanced by the Topeka City Council in October, the measure would ultimately be decided by voters.

3. Council adopts four-year utility rate model

TOPEKA, Kan. - The Topeka City Council has adopted a new water and utility rate model for the next four years. The approved plan removes the readiness-to-serve base charge while implementing incremental increases in basin consumption charges. Over the four-year period, the model aims to align commercial and industrial customer rates with those paid by residential customers, with exact individual utility costs depending on main size and location.

4. City officials address widespread road construction delays

TOPEKA, Kan. - City officials are asking for patience as multiple road reconstruction projects continue to cause traffic delays across Topeka. City leadership attributed the high volume of ongoing work to a need to catch up on decades of deferred maintenance before winter weather halts construction. Specific projects, such as the Fairlawn roadwork between 21st Street and Shunga Creek, have faced unexpected delays stretching completion to late November due to unmapped underground utilities and telecom relocation issues.

5. City prepares for potential annexation of proposed data center

TOPEKA, Kan. - City officials are preparing a presentation for the Oct. 13 Topeka City Council meeting regarding the potential annexation of a massive proposed data center just outside city limits. While Shawnee County holds the ultimate authority to approve the facility's development, the city has maintained a moratorium to research its water usage capabilities and annexation options. Officials clarified that no funds regarding the data center have been factored into the city's budget, but the city wants to be prepared to act if the county approves the project.

6. City announces plans to end school resource officer contract with USD 501

TOPEKA, Kan. - The city has announced plans to end its contract with Topeka Public Schools USD 501 to provide school resource officers (SROs) to local middle schools when the current agreement expires in June. While the budget technically retains the funding for the police officers — ensuring no officers lose their jobs — operational and resource concerns prompted the planned shift. City leadership stated the Topeka Police Department will work with the district to provide alternative services and assistance outside the traditional SRO model.

7. City cautious on subsidizing new KBI headquarters

TOPEKA, Kan. - Following the Kansas Bureau of Investigation's (KBI) announcement of a proposed $80 million downtown headquarters, city leaders expressed caution regarding potential city subsidies for the project. While emphasizing that the city wants the KBI to remain in the capital, officials noted that state buildings do not generate property tax revenue, making direct financial subsidies difficult to justify under the newly finalized 2027 budget. However, city officials remain open to discussions about assisting with surrounding infrastructure.

8. New commission to finalize Topeka fire services plan

TOPEKA, Kan. - A new 10-member community commission will be formed this fall to finalize the future of Topeka's fire services. Tasked with reviewing proposed station locations, staffing, response times and funding, the commission will consist of one resident appointed by each city council member and one at-large member appointed by the mayor. The group is expected to hold its first meeting in October and present a final advisory report to the Topeka City Council by April 2027.

9. Mayor's office to host open office hours at City Hall

TOPEKA, Kan. - Topeka residents will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with city leadership during open office hours on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Topeka City Hall. The 15-minute appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis, allowing citizens to bring forward concerns, ideas or questions directly to the administration. Residents can sign up via links on the city's social media platforms or by emailing the mayor's office.

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