Proposed Budget

Development of the 2026 fiscal year budget is in progress. County Manager Penny Postoak Ferguson presented the proposed 2026 budget to the Board of County Commissioners on May 15, 2025.

The proposed budget includes an estimated mill levy of 24.125 mills. This is comprised of the County Taxing District at 17.286 mills, Library Taxing District at 3.816 mills, and the Park and Recreation Taxing District at 3.023 mills.

The proposed budget totals $1.90 billion, including $1.393 million in expenditures and $508 million in reserves. Also included is the proposed Capital Improvement Program, totaling $347.4 million.

2026 Proposed Capital and Operating Budget

Timeline of the Budget Process

Timeline of key dates in 2026 budget process

Development of the fiscal year budget takes place from January-August. The County Manager and Budget and Financial Planning staff present a proposed version of the budget to the Board in May.

The budget is later modified after a series of work sessions by the Board. This is followed by a public hearing in August, then the Board’s adoption of the final budget. Here's a timeline of key dates leading up to adoption of the 2026 fiscal year budget:

  • March 28: BOCC Budget Retreat
  • May 15: Proposed Budget Overview
  • May 22-June 12: Department Budget Presentations
  • June 9, 10, 17, 18 and 24: Budget Open Houses
  • June 26: Board sets maximum expenditure budget
  • Aug. 20: Public Hearing and Revenue Neutral Rate Hearing
  • Aug. 28: Formal Adoption of Budget

Budget Open Houses

Residents and elected officials talk during a budget open house event

Budget open houses are an opportunity for the public to come learn about the proposed budget, ask questions and provide informal feedback. The event doesn’t include a formal presentation nor public comment session.

Budget open houses for the 2026 proposed budget will take place on these dates from 4-6:30 p.m.:

  • Monday, June 9 at Corinth Library
  • Tuesday, June 10 at Central Resource Library
  • Tuesday, June 17 at Lenexa City Center Library
  • Wednesday, June 18 at Blue Valley Library
  • Tuesday, June 24 at Gardner Library

Public Hearings

Public hearings on exceeding the revenue neutral rate and the 2026 budget are scheduled for Johnson County on Aug. 20.

Public hearings for the budget are required each year. If the county is to exceed the revenue neutral rate, a revenue neutral rate hearing is also required. This means that the county’s property tax revenue is to increase – even if the mill levy rate goes down.

If the county intends to exceed the revenue neutral rate in a given year, an estimated tax notice would be mailed to property owners with this information. You can learn more on our estimated tax notice webpage.