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The total overhead (burden) expenses for the Greater Topeka Partnership, excluding business incentives, amount to $3,869,613 for 2024. This includes all administrative, occupancy, travel, insurance, depreciation, office, and similar indirect expenses across all departments.02.14.24-JEDO-Meeting-Agenda-FINAL_Page_11-Copy.jpg
Overhead Category | Total Budgeted 2024 |
---|---|
Payroll/Benefits | $847,04402.14.24-JEDO-Meeting-Agenda-FINAL_Page_11-Copy.jpg |
Other Compensation | $5,28002.14.24-JEDO-Meeting-Agenda-FINAL_Page_11-Copy.jpg |
Shared Services | $588,00002.14.24-JEDO-Meeting-Agenda-FINAL_Page_11-Copy.jpg |
Office Expense | $24,07002.14.24-JEDO-Meeting-Agenda-FINAL_Page_11-Copy.jpg |
Occupancy (Rent) | $135,84702.14.24-JEDO-Meeting-Agenda-FINAL_Page_11-Copy.jpg |
Sales Travel | $46,27502.14.24-JEDO-Meeting-Agenda-FINAL_Page_11-Copy.jpg |
Hospitality | $8,80002.14.24-JEDO-Meeting-Agenda-FINAL_Page_11-Copy.jpg |
Depreciation/Amort. | $105,06902.14.24-JEDO-Meeting-Agenda-FINAL_Page_11-Copy.jpg |
Insurance/Taxes/Fees | $17,86002.14.24-JEDO-Meeting-Agenda-FINAL_Page_11-Copy.jpg |
Dues/Subscriptions | $23,29202.14.24-JEDO-Meeting-Agenda-FINAL_Page_11-Copy.jpg |
Advertising | $181,86202.14.24-JEDO-Meeting-Agenda-FINAL_Page_11-Copy.jpg |
Professional Services | $277,65902.14.24-JEDO-Meeting-Agenda-FINAL_Page_11-Copy.jpg |
Other Employee Costs | $73,63602.14.24-JEDO-Meeting-Agenda-FINAL_Page_11-Copy.jpg |
Interest Expense | $83,02802.14.24-JEDO-Meeting-Agenda-FINAL_Page_11-Copy.jpg |
$2,417,722 | |
Total Before Incentives | $3,869,613 |
Note: The sum above ($2,417,722) directly comes from visible line items, but the actual "Total Expenses Before Incentives" on the statement is $3,869,613, showing all indirect/burden allocations, including some grouped or departmentally-distributed items.02.14.24-JEDO-Meeting-Agenda-FINAL_Page_11-Copy.jpg
Overhead includes costs for staff, rent, travel, office supplies, insurance, depreciation, dues, advertising, professional services, and all other non-incentive expenses necessary to operate the organization.02.14.24-JEDO-Meeting-Agenda-FINAL_Page_11-Copy.jpg
Business incentives, at $3,179,182, are excluded when calculating "burden" or "overhead," as requested.
The largest single overhead items are payroll/benefits ($847,044), shared services ($588,000), and professional services ($277,659).02.14.24-JEDO-Meeting-Agenda-FINAL_Page_11-Copy.jpg
Occupancy/rent across all departments totals $135,847; travel is $46,275.02.14.24-JEDO-Meeting-Agenda-FINAL_Page_11-Copy.jpg
All listed amounts strictly exclude any direct business incentive distribution, focusing solely on administrative and operational expenditures.02.14.24-JEDO-Meeting-Agenda-FINAL_Page_11-Copy.jpg
Henry McClure
785.383.9994
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time kills deals
Consultants use cookie-cutter solutions and don't understand our daily realities. When departments do the study themselves, results are more accurate and practical, and staff are more likely to support the changes.
Let's use our experience and save taxpayer money. Funding should go to our own officers so we know the results will fit Topeka, not some generic answers from far away.
Proposed Budget: $132,985,265 for FY2026, an increase of about 4% from $127,570,984 in FY2025.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Personnel Costs: $100,999,790, accounting for over three-quarters of the general fund—up 4.2% due to finalized union contracts and 3% COLA pool for non-union employees.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Non-Personnel Expenses: Increased by 4% (about $1.2M), largely from inflation.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Use of Reserves: One-time reserves will be drawn down, including the unassigned fund balance, to balance the FY2026 budget, with a plan to maintain a 15% minimum unassigned reserve.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Estimated Revenues:
Sales Tax: $41.7M (projected 2.25% growth)Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Ad Valorem (Property) Tax: $43.8M, with a 4.24% assessed value increaseAgenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Franchise Fees: $16.2MAgenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
PILOTS, Fees for Services, and others fill out the remainder.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Projected Gap: $7.54M budget gap for FY2026 to be filled by reserves.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Maintain Mill Levy: The property tax mill levy remains at 36.956, which is above the calculated revenue-neutral rate of 35.183.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Use of Reserves: General fund reserve projected to decrease to the 15% policy threshold for end-of-year balance.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Staffing Adjustments: Reduction of 19 FTEs from the 2025 budget and assumption of 21 FTEs held vacant to reduce personnel costs.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
FY2026 Budget: $52.7M (a planned decrease from FY2025's $54.5M).Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
New Initiatives: Funding for a police staffing study ($150,000), Lexipol policy system ($40,000), addition of 6 civilian positions in specialty units, and removal of 11 positions.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
FY2026 Budget: $37.3M (down from $38.8M in FY2025).Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Adjustments: Replacement of critical equipment (air compressors), reduction of 2 FTEs, and planned vacancy credit for positions.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
FY2026 Budget: $7.6M from the general fund for departmental operations, plus capital outlays from special funds.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Projects: Pavement and bridge improvements, vehicle and equipment upgrades, and citywide maintenance goals.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Water Utility: $62.3M, with major investments in infrastructure, treatment plant upgrades, and capital projects. 15% increase in chemical costs and 11% increase in utility expenses anticipated.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Stormwater Utility: $12.6M, focused on compliance, infrastructure replacement, and maintenance efficiency.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Wastewater Utility: $45.4M, emphasizes ongoing plant improvements, regulatory compliance, and increased biosolids processing.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
HR: $2.3M; focus on recruitment, job description updates, and training.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
IT: $6.0M; enhancement includes a new cybersecurity director and expanded software investments.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Planning & Development: $3.9M; targets affordable housing and code compliance.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Fee Schedule Increases: Across multiple departments, projected to add $200,000 in revenue.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
No General Fund Subsidy for Hotel Topeka: Saving $1.4M compared to prior budgets.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Non-Departmental: Increase to $15.6M, mainly to cover IT/facilities allocations, prisoner care, social service grants, and other citywide expenses.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Fund | 2025 Ending Balance | 2026 Ending Balance (Proj.) |
---|---|---|
General Fund | $23,028,432 | $19,975,720 |
Special Highway Fund | $188,836 | $0 |
Water Utility | $15,721,730 | $14,054,172 |
Wastewater Fund | $20,744,099 | $19,752,344 |
Stormwater Utility | $4,575,626 | $4,038,213 |
Sales Tax Maint. | $34,759,722 | $27,738,979 |
Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Tax Revenue Breakdown (2026 est.):
Sales Tax: $86M
Ad Valorem Tax: $64M
Motor Vehicle Tax: $5M
Transient Guest Tax: $3M
Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Top Taxpayers: Evergy Kansas Central Inc. / Westar ($91.7M assessed value), followed by Kansas Gas Service, Target Corp., and others.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Top Employers: State of Kansas (10%+ of city jobs), Stormont-Vail, Hills Pet Nutrition, USD 501, Blue Cross.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Budget Sustainability: The City is using one-time reserves to close the FY2026 gap; future years will require either new revenues or expense cuts to avoid a projected $13M deficit in FY2027.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Inflation Pressures: Personnel costs and health insurance premiums are increasing.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Special Highway Fund: Present structural deficit addressed by $2M transfer; not sustainable long-term.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Public Hearing: Scheduled for September 9, 2025 at City Council Chambers.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
Adoption: Possible final vote on September 16, 2025.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf
All references are drawn directly from the "City of Topeka 2026 Proposed Operating Budget"—including detailed department presentations, fund tables, City Manager's letter, and supporting legislative resolutions and notices.Agenda_2025_9_9_Meeting-1042.pdf