By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Several Barton County Commissioners agreed Tuesday morning: keeping the county’s 2027 operational budget revenue neutral was a difficult task. But for the sixth consecutive year, Barton County will not raise taxes for its citizens. County Administrator Matt Patzner presented the budget to the board of commissioners during Tuesday’s meeting.
“This budget is the organizational blueprint to maintain delivery of quality services at an affordable cost to the taxpayer,” Patzner said. “The main goals that have led the commission to this proposed budget were to remain revenue neutral, which means levying the same or less total tax dollars as were levied in 2026.”
Other goals included maintaining quality public services in a way that is sustainable for years to come, investing in employees who deliver those services, and continuing to expand the tax base of Barton County and enrich the life of its citizens. Patzner explained how that is possible without raising property taxes for county residents.
“Over the past year,” he said, “Barton Conty has reduced its authorized work force by seven full-time positions through attrition and strategic organizational changes, while continuing to maintain core public services.”
Those moves include the transition of an in-house engineering department to contracted services. The county also restructured its facilities management department through staff reductions and strategic use of contracted custodial services. The 2027 budget will also utilize increased motor vehicle operating fund revenues to reduce the treasurer’s office reliance on general funds.
This year’s county-wide assessed valuation came in at $356,599,696. The approved mill levy of 23.434 mills will generate $11,922,421 in ad valorem dollars, or those generated by property taxes. That is an $18,933 reduction from the amount collected by the county last year, and a $303,305 reduction against the number levied by the county in 2021.
Patzner said the budget still allows for the equivalent of a $0.50 per-hour wage increase for all employees, along with a targeted salary adjustment in the county attorney’s office to improve recruitment and retention.