Ways to weigh in on 2027 Budget

Published on June 18, 2026

2027 Budget graphic and Lenexa logo overlaid on bird's-eye view of Lenexa Old Town Activity Center and outdoor pickleball courts

Lenexa’s mayor and City Council will begin reviewing the 2027 Recommended Budget on June 23, 2026, at a Committee of the Whole meeting. The proposed financial plan aims to balance community priorities with mixed economic conditions, a newly renewed revenue source and a continued reduction in the property tax rate.

Budget at a glance

The total recommended budget for 2027 is $275.2 million. It reduces the property tax rate to 25.984 mills, a decrease of 0.250 mills compared 2026’s mill levy. This is Lenexa’s ninth consecutive reduction in the property tax rate. 

When developing the budget, City leaders followed long-established principles that have supported strong financial outcomes for years, including:

  • Funding on-going operating expenditures with on-going revenue sources.
  • Using one-time revenues for one-time expenditures (capital projects, for example).
  • Maintaining sufficient reserve balances to address unforeseen events like the Great Recession and COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Using a conservative approach to revenue estimation.
  • Preparing and funding equipment replacement and building maintenance schedules.

“The proposed budget continues to carry out the Governing Body’s guiding principles through investment in important community priorities, while maintaining financial flexibility to respond to changing economic conditions,” City Manager Beccy Yocham wrote in her budget message to the Governing Body. Yocham's message also points to the 2025 Citizen Survey results where Lenexa's ratings ranked more than 20% above the national benchmarks in 44 key service areas and said "the results tell us that our residents are highly satisfied with the services the City provides and underscore the appreciation our residents have for our efforts."

Explore the budget

The 2027 Recommended Budget is posted to Lenexa.com/Budget. You can review the full proposed budget document, which includes a financial overview, individual department and fund budgets, and more helpful details.  

If you’re just interested in the highlights, City Manager Beccy Yocham and Chief Financial Officer Nate Blum explain how City leaders developed the 2027 Recommended Budget and share a high-level overview of the document in a recorded presentation below. 

Budget timeline

Over the next few months, Lenexans have the opportunity to review and ask questions about the proposed document before it’s considered for approval.  

June 23, 2026: City staff presented an overview of the 2027 Recommended Budget to the mayor and City Council during a Committee of the Whole meeting at 7 p.m. These meetings are open to the public and are intended for discussion only; no formal action is taken.

July 14, 2026: The mayor and City Council will hold a second budget review session at 7 p.m. to review individual department budgets. This Committee of the Whole meeting will also be for discussion only.

August 2026: Estimated tax notices are mailed by Johnson County to all property owners. These notices include information on public hearing dates, proposed property tax rate changes and estimates for your future property tax amounts.

A 2021 state law requires all taxing jurisdictions — like cities, counties and school districts — to send out a mailed notice and hold a public hearing if they intend to exceed the revenue neutral rate. This is the mill levy needed to generate the same amount of property tax revenue as the prior year, using the current year’s assessed valuation amounts. It’s common for taxing jurisdictions to exceed this rate so they can maintain and expand services.  

Aug. 18, 2026: At the City Council meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall, members of the public can share comments on the 2027 Recommended Budget.

Sept. 1, 2026: The City Council will meet at 7 p.m. at Lenexa City Hall and hold two public hearings: one about exceeding the revenue neutral rate, and one about the proposed budget. The Council will then vote on two resolutions: one to exceed the revenue neutral rate and one to approve the 2027 Budget.  

Fall 2026: City leaders will begin review of the 2027–2031 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The CIP creates a plan for funding and building capital projects over a rolling five-year period.

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