Liberal City Commission Meets, Adopts 2014 Budget

The Liberal City Commission me Tuesday evening at 6:30pm for their regularly scheduled meeting. On the agenda was the Second Reading of the proposed 2014 budget. The Commission approved the Second Reading of the Ordinance which will set the Mill Levy for the 2014 City of Liberal Budget. The budget amount is $32,735,000.00, a mill levy dollar amount of $5,481,492 and a mill levy of 47.848 mills, based on July 1st estimated valuation This represents a 4.822 mill levy increase and an assessed ad valorem tax dollar increase of $553,205.00 over last year’s budget amount. The ever increasing operational costs, KPERS, KP&F, anticipating National Health Care costs, and other uncontrollable costs, help attribute to to increase in expenditures. This is the first time in 7 years the City has asked for a mill levy increase. Along with the mill levy increase, a reduction in staffing of 23 positions has taken place over the last 2 years. The Commision also approved the lease of a copy machine from Southern Office Supply for the Mid America Air Museum, and approved entering once again into a partnership with the Mid America Air Museum Foundation Board for a 2015 Traveling exhibit. Coming in 2015 will be "Megalodon: Largest Shark That Ever Lived". This exhibit will be coming from the Florida Museum of Natural History. Commissioners also approved the purchase of a Rhino pull behind rotary mower for the golf course from Keating Tractor in the amount of $4,500.00. The next regular meeting of the Liberal City Commission will be September 10th.