Leavenworth City Commission cuts property taxes by 40%

Media Contact: Melissa Bower, Public Information Officer

Aug. 20, 2014

The Leavenworth City Commission voted Aug. 19 to approve the City’s operating budget for 2015 with a 21-mill property tax drop. The mill levy decrease was paid for by a 1-percent increase in sales taxes that was approved by Leavenworth voters in February 2014.

 Leavenworth Mayor Mark Preisinger said the Commission believes strongly in its efforts to lower property taxes in Leavenworth.

 “We are very proud we have dropped property taxes by 40 percent,” he said. “This is the largest property tax reduction in the State of Kansas and possibly the nation. This announces to the entire Kansas City area that Leavenworth is an outstanding place to live, work, invest and raise a family.”

The City’s mill levy will drop from 52.029 mills to 31.029 mills, which will mean savings in property taxes for both residential and business property owners. The tax drop will only affect the City’s mill levy. Entities such as the school district and the county are separate taxing authorities.

The 2015 budget for the City is $38 million. There are no additional personnel, except for the Convention and Visitors Bureau, which was transferred to the City in 2014. The Convention and Visitors Bureau is funded by transient guest tax funds.

The approved budget is a balanced budget.