Dickinson County Adopts 2027 Budget With 10% Mill Levy Cut Since 2025

The Dickinson County Commission adopted a fiscal year 2027 budget totaling about $32,142,600, following a public hearing presented by Assistant County Administrator and Finance Director Marcus Rothschild.

Rothschild said the budget came in under the revenue neutral rate and reduced spending by about $782,853 compared to the prior year, providing a property tax reduction of about $97,291 and a mill levy reduction of 2.005 mills, roughly 3%. He said the mill levy, at 48.4 mills, is down 15% since 2022 and down 10% over the past two years, with a total property tax reduction of $613,695 since 2025.

He said the county's mill levy ranks about 32nd lowest among Kansas's 105 counties, and that Dickinson County ranks 30th lowest for property tax per capita at about $758 per person. The county budgeted 142 total employees, down from 146 budgeted for 2026.

Rothschild presented department-by-department breakdowns of county services, including more than 205 miles of paved roads, up to 290 bridges, EMS operations, the jail (which averaged about 33 inmates), dispatch (23,900 calls dispatched in 2025), and other offices. Using his own Abilene home as an example, he noted that despite the mill levy reduction, his county tax portion rose by $9.36 because his property valuation increased by about $10,000.

Commissioners thanked county staff and elected officials for finding cuts to reach the reduction. The commission voted to adopt the fiscal year 2027 budget, with the motion carrying unanimously.