Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story misstated the total amount by which the budget will increase in 2026. The headline and story now contain the correct amount of the increase.
Spring Hill residents will see a slight reduction in the city’s portion of property taxes for 2026, though the city’s overall budget is set to increase roughly 14.85%.
Part of the budget increase comes from staff raises and new positions.
The Spring Hill City Council voted 4-2 on Sept. 11 to approve the 2026 budget with a 0.75 mill reduction, saving residents about $8.63 per $100,000 of their home’s valuation. Council President Chad Young and Councilmember Phillip Thron voted against the measure, both advocating for the full one mill reduction.
“When we have the opportunity to give back such a small portion of what we can, I think we should,” Thron said.
Councilmember Kristin Feeback voted for the 0.75 mill reduction out of concern for a future property tax cap proposed in the state legislature. The item failed to pass the Kansas Senate, but is likely to come up again next year, said Spring Hill’s Finance Director Rhonda Dunn.
Dunn plans to use $94,500 from a city reserve fund to offset the city’s expenses and the reduced mill levy rate — leaving about $729,500 in the fund.
“That’s why we created it, to help offset costs as they come up,” Dunn said. “I’m recommending that we use this cash to offset the increases to get the reduced mill levy that you’re looking for.”
The breakdown: How will this affect your tax bill?
Spring Hill’s average residential property value is $379,587, up 10% from 2024, according to real estate statistics maintained by the Johnson County Appraiser’s Office.
To calculate what your actual tax bill to the city will be, multiply the value of your home by .115 (the residential assessment rate). From there, take that number and divide it by 1,000. Then, multiply the result by the approved mill levy rate of 22.22.
For the average home in Spring Hill, based on the 2025 figure, that means about $969.95 in property taxes owed to the city in 2026.
The budget by the numbers
Spring Hill’s total 2026 budget is roughly $37.2 million — up 14.85% from roughly $32.4 million in 2025.
Highlighted expenses by the city include:
- $1,077,753 in city expenses including people related costs, transfers for debt, professional services, software renewals, communications, engineering, commercial insurance, legal and consulting
- $132,000 to fund staff raises, about 4.4% per employee
- $165,000 for a new building official
- $256,000 for two new police officers
- $243,000 for a 19.6% increase in medical insurance costs
Spring Hill also anticipates building a new wastewater treatment facility, which will be funded through a combination of the wastewater fund, bonds and a special benefit district. These types of projects are not funded by property taxes, according to the city’s 2025-29 Capital Improvement Plan.
Prior to the budget’s approval, the city council discussed only adding one police officer position and reducing employee raises.
Mayor Joe Berkey, who is not seeking reelection this year, said he’s glad the city is able to keep those expenses in the budget by pulling funds from the city’s medical reserve account.
“Police is way too important, the community development department — every employee is way too important — but those specifically are way too important to not consider taking out of this extra reserve fund,” Berkey said.
