The City of Emporia’s 2024 budget is now set in stone.
City commissioners approved authorization of the budget as part of their regular action meeting Wednesday morning. In addition to a greater than $64 million price tag, the budget will also carry a lowered mill levy rate of 43.5 mills, slightly lower than the 2022 levy rate of 44.426 mills.
The city also carries the lowest mill rate among the major taxing entities — city, county and USD 253 Emporia. According to City Manager Trey Cocking the city’s mill levy places Emporia in the “middle of the road” in comparison to similar sized communities, however, he says when it comes to property taxes per capita the city is much lower on the list than others.
In a separate, but related, item commissioners approved exceeding the revenue-neutral rate for the 2024 fiscal year. Commissioners also approved the city’s five-year budget and the annual list of appropriations.
In other business Wednesday, commissioners narrowly approved a development agreement with Ignite LLC for the Kretsinger Development. The final vote was 3-2 with commissioners Erren Harter, Jamie Sauder and Susan Brinkman all voting in favor.
Commissioners Becky Smith and Danny Giefer voted against with Giefer reading a prepared statement ahead of the vote. In that statement, Giefer noted he had, and has had, several concerns with the development specifically infrastructure and location.
Giefer summed up his comments by saying “I think we can do better.”
Commissioner Sauder says when it comes to location, the city is “landlocked” in many ways and has to develop within its boundaries.
Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce President Jeanine McKenna says she expected a split vote on the item and says the final product will speak for itself.
The next step in the process will be to put the project out to bid.
During the commission’s regular study meeting commissioners reviewed the city’s bond calendar, discussed city zoning regulations, reviewed a CGI Digital grant fund and received an update on the city’s water system. The Emporia City Commission will next convene on Wednesday, September 20 at 11 am inside of the Municipal Courtroom at White Auditorium.
