On Aug. 20, the Board of County Commissioners conducted a public hearing in the Olathe Conference Center, Embassy Suites, 10401 S. Ridgeview Road, on the proposed FY 2026 Budget and proposed levies to exceed revenue neutral rates for the county’s three taxing districts.

The Board of County Commissioners also met on Thursday, Aug. 21 in the Hearing Room at the Johnson County Administration Building.

More information, including official minutes, votes, videos, information about how to make public comments and how to request accommodations is available at boccmeetings.jocogov.org. This recap is not the official record of the public hearing or the BOCC meeting.

Levy for County Taxing District

Adopted Resolution No. 080-25 authorizing a levy of property taxes in support of the budget for the Johnson County Taxing District for the FY 2026 budget year that requires a property tax rate exceeding the revenue neutral rate of 16.217 mills. Vote: Passed 6-1.

• Yes: Brewer, Meyers, Hanzlick, Allenbrand, Fast, Kelly
• No: Ashcraft

Levy for Park and Recreation Taxing District

Adopted Resolution No 081-25 authorizing a levy of property taxes in support of the budget for the Park and Recreation Taxing District for the FY 2026 budget year that requires a property tax rate exceeding the revenue neutral rate of 2.836 mills. Vote: Passed 6-1.

• Yes: Brewer, Meyers, Hanzlick, Allenbrand, Fast, Kelly
• No: Ashcraft

Levy for Library Taxing District

Adopted Resolution No. 082-25 authorizing a levy of property taxes in support of the budget for the Library Taxing District for the FY 2026 budget year that requires a property tax rate exceeding the revenue neutral rate of 3.580 mills. Vote: Passed 6-1.

• Yes: Brewer, Meyers, Hanzlick, Allenbrand, Fast, Kelly
• No: Ashcraft

Dissolution of advisory board

Adopted Resolution No 077-25 for the dissolution of the Johnson County Emergency Communications Center Advisory Board.

Acceptance of grant funding

Approved acceptance of the MCR FY 26 Grant of $245,000 and authorized the Mental Health Department to add a 1.0 FTE case manager to the Mobile Crisis Response Team and a 1.0 FTE clinician to the Mobile Crisis Outreach Team and authorized the reallocation and expenditure of Mental Health fund balance (reserves) for FY 2025 in the amount of $87,900.

Contract for wastewater sewer main project

Authorized a contract with Site Rite Construction Co. to construct the Blue River No. 28, Contract District 1 Sewer Main Extension Project in an amount not to exceed $3,046,422.

Consent Agenda Vote: Passed 7-0.

Agreement to improve 199th Street

Approved an agreement with the City of Spring Hill for the improvement of 199th Street from Ridgeview Road to Renner Road with CARS Reserve and Federal Fund Exchange accounts in an amount not to exceed $150,000.  Vote: Passed 6-0-1.

• Yes: Brewer, Meyers, Hanzlick, Allenbrand, Fast, Ashcraft
• Chairman Kelly recused himself

Bonds to construct industrial facility

Adopted Resolution No. 092-25 and authorized Johnson County to issue Taxable Industrial Revenue Bonds, Series 2025, in the principal amount not to exceed $75 million for the purpose of financing the construction of an industrial facility located at New Century; and to grant an ad valorem tax abatement on the constructed improvements for 10 years starting at $0.46 a square foot and escalating at 2% annually thereafter; and entering into a payment in lieu of tax (PILOT) agreement; and certain other documents in connection with the issuance of the bonds. Vote: Passed 6-1.

• Yes: Brewer, Meyers, Hanzlick, Allenbrand, Fast, Kelly
• No: Ashcraft

Contract for wastewater services

Authorized a contract with Denali Water Solutions, LLC, for Biosolids Land Application from Johnson County Wastewater facilities at a cost not to exceed $1 million per year for a three-year contract period with the option to renew for an additional three-year period. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Budget director reviews FY 2026 Budget public hearing

Budget Director Robin Symes to present a review of the public hearing on FY 2026 Budget that occurred Wednesday, Aug. 20, at the Olathe Conference Center. Following a budget presentation, the Board heard approximately 47 comments during the 2½-hour hearing attended by about 220 residents. Adoption of the county’s FY 2026 Budget, FY 2026 – 2030 Capital Improvement Program and local fire district budgets is scheduled for the Board’s action agenda on Aug. 28.

CERI releases Economic Indicators for August 2025

The August 2025 edition of the Economic Indicators for Johnson County has been provided by the County Economic Research Institute. In comparing changes since June 2024, CERI reports the unemployment rate for June 2025 was 3.7%, a 0.1% increase; the number of single-family homes sold was 976, an 11.5% increase; and the total number of single-family building permits issued was 152, a 4.8% increase. In year-to-date comparisons to 2024, the number of single-family homes sold in 2025 was 4,314, a 9.6% increase, and the number of single-family building permits issued was 925, a 10% increase. Additionally, the CERI reports total year-to-date retail sales for Johnson County were $8.45 billion as of May 2025, a 4.6% increase, from May 2024.

NACO Achievement Award – Leadership Empowers All People

Human Resources staff showcased the redesigned Leadership Empowers All People program, a recipient of a 2025 NACO Achievement Award. LEAP is an employee program designed to strengthen Johnson County’s organizational culture by fostering empowerment and driving the growth of a high-performing organization. The program, which began in 2012, was completely redesigned in 2022 to increase interactivity and accessibility for employees. This was the second of four presentations highlighting programs that received an Achievement Award. The remaining programs will be recognized in the coming weeks.

Fire District No. 1 mill levies for FY 2026

After a public hearing, the Governing Board of Fire District No. 1 adopted Resolution No. 2025-0003 authorizing a levy of property taxes in support of the budget for Fire District No. 1 for the FY 2026 budget year that requires a property tax rate exceeding the revenue neutral rate of 1.339 mills for the Fire District No. 1 Debt Service Bond A Fund and 1.049 mills for the Fire District No. 1 Debt Service Bond B Fund. Vote: Passed 4-0.

Fire District No. 1 budget for FY 2026

The Governing Board of Fire District No. 1 approved and adopted Resolution No. 2025-0004 to approve the FY 2026 budget for Johnson County Fire District No. 1 as proposed. Vote: Passed 4-0.

Fire District No. 2 mill levies for FY 2026

The BOCC, sitting as the Governing Board of Fire District No. 2 and after a public hearing, adopted Resolution No. 2025-2 authorizing a levy of property taxes in support of the budget for Fire District No. 2 for the FY 2026 budget year that requires a property tax rate exceeding the revenue neutral rate of 0.534 mills for the Fire District No. 2 Debt Service Bond H Fund and 0.753 mills for the Fire District No. 2 Debt Service Bond I Fund. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Fire District No. 2 budget for FY 2026

The BOCC, sitting as the Governing Board of Fire District No. 2, approved and adopted Resolution No. 2025-3 to approve the FY 2026 budget for Johnson County Fire District No. 2 as proposed. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Consolidated Fire District No. 1 mill levies for FY 2026

The BOCC, sitting as the Governing Board of Johnson County Consolidated Fire District No. 1 and after a public hearing, adopted Resolution No. 2025-1 authorizing a levy of property taxes in support of the budget for Johnson County Consolidated Fire District No. 1 for the FY 2026 budget year that requires a property tax rate exceeding the revenue neutral rate of 0.000 for Johnson County Consolidated Fire District No. 1 General Fund. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Consolidated Fire District No. 1 budget for FY 2026

The BOCC, sitting as the Governing Board of Johnson County Consolidated Fire District No. 1, approved and adopted Resolution No. 2025-2 to approve the FY 2026 budget for Johnson County Consolidated Fire District No. 1 as proposed. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Agreement to house equipment in data center

Consider approving an information technology services agreement with Johnson County Park and Recreation District to house equipment in the data center at the County Communications Center at a fee of $2,365.35 for the first year with a 3% increase per year for a period of five years.

FY 2026 budgets for Consolidated Fire District No. 1, Fire Districts No. 1 and No. 2

Resolution No. 088-25. Consider approving the Fiscal Year 2026 budgets for Johnson County Consolidated Fire District No. 1, Johnson County Fire District No. 1 and Johnson County Fire District No. 2 and adopting Resolution No. 088-25.

FY 2026 budget for Northwest Consolidated Fire District

Resolution No. 086-25. Consider approving the Fiscal Year 2026 budget for Northwest Consolidated Fire District and adopting Resolution No. 086-25.

FY 2026 budget for Consolidated Fire District No. 2

Resolution No. 087-25. Consider approving the Fiscal Year 2026 budget for Consolidated Fire District No. 2 and adopting Resolution No. 087-25.

Additional staffing at the Youth and Family Services facility

Consider approving 3.0 FTE Behavioral Health Specialists for the Johnson County Mental Health Center to provide respite care services for children and adolescents at the Youth and Family Services facility.

Funds to subrecipient organizations to help at-risk populations

Consider approving the allocation of $791,473.44 of HOME-ARP Supportive Services, non-profit operating and capacity building federal grant funds to subrecipient organizations as recommended by the Housing and Community Development Advisory Committee, authorize the reallocation and expenditure of General Fund balances (reserves) for FY 2025 in an amount not to exceed $791,474 and delegate authority to execute agreements with subrecipients to the director of Planning, Housing and Community Development.

Adoption of Johnson County’s FY 2026 Budget and FY 2026-2030 CIP

Resolution No. 083-25. Consider approving and adopting Resolution No. 056-24, adopting the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget and FY 2026 – 2030 Capital Improvement Program as proposed.

Policy on rendering mutual aid in disasters

Resolution No. 096-25. Consider approving and adopting resolution establishing a policy for the rendering of mutual aid in times of disaster to other municipalities and public safety agencies within or without the state of Kansas, to enhance Johnson County Government's ability to provide emergency assistance with or without a disaster declaration, both within Kansas and across state lines and to replace Johnson County Resolution 115-95.

Resource Sharing Agreement during emergencies

Consider approving the Kansas City Regional Resource Sharing Agreement to facilitate the sharing of personnel, equipment and services across the region during emergencies.

Rules and regulations for Civil Service Board

Resolution No. 097-25. Consider approving Resolution No. 097-25, adopting the rules and regulations for the Civil Service Board of Johnson County governing certain employees of the Sheriff’s Office.