SALINA — The Salina Public Library Board of Trustees will meet Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at 7 a.m. in the Prescott Room of the Library to hold two public hearings: one on exceeding the state’s Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR) and another on adoption of the 2026 budget.
Public Comment Procedures
A sign-in sheet will be available for all persons wishing to address the Salina Public Library Board. Speakers must sign in prior to the start of the meeting, or they may contact Library Director Melanie Hedgespeth at director@salinapublic.org or 785-833-9201 to be placed on the list in advance.
- The Board President will call names in the order listed. Anyone not on the sheet will not be permitted to comment.
- Comments will not be accepted from the audience during the meeting.
- If the Board President is absent, another presiding officer will handle public comments.
- Once all listed speakers have been heard, the public comment period will close and the meeting agenda will resume.
- Comments must pertain to agenda items or matters relevant to the Board’s work. Off-topic remarks may be stopped.
- All comments must be made with civility and respect. The Board President may end remarks if proper decorum is not maintained.
- All comments will be directed to the Board President, who may seek responses from other trustees.
- The public comment period is not a question-and-answer session. The Board is not obligated to respond.
Revenue Neutral Rate Hearing
The Revenue Neutral Rate for 2025, calculated by the Saline County Clerk, is 5.433 mills. To exceed this rate, the Board must pass Resolution No. 25-03 following the public hearing.
2026 Budget Proposal
The Library Board is considering a 2026 mill levy of 5.715 mills, projected to generate $3,130,139 in ad valorem tax revenue.
📌 Taxpayer Impact
- $100,000 home → $65.72 per year (about $5.48 per month)
- $150,000 home → $98.58 per year
- $200,000 home → $131.44 per year
Community Impact
So far in 2025, the Library has reported providing more than $7.5 million worth of services and programming to Salina. Between January and July, patrons checked out 303,121 materials, while 88,715 people visited the library. In addition, 386 volunteers contributed nearly 1,000 hours of service.
Board Members Voting
The following trustees will vote on the 2026 budget and RNR resolution:
- Judy Nold
- Gerry Cox
- Crystal Stewart
- Lisa Mahler
- Nancy Nickell
- Gloria Woods
- Linda Reynolds
- Greg Lenkiewicz (Ex Officio, Mayor)
Next Steps
The Board will vote on both exceeding the Revenue Neutral Rate and adopting the 2026 budget at the August 26 meeting, following the close of public comments.
Note:
The above record shows how each member of the Salina Public Library Board of Trustees voted on July 15, 2025 regarding the publication of the proposed 2026 budget and mill levy, which was printed exceeding the state’s Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR).
All members present — including Mayor Greg Lenkiewicz (Ex Officio), Board President Lisa Mahler, Vice President Judy Nold, Secretary Gloria Woods, Treasurer Linda Reynolds, and trustees Gerry Cox, Crystal Stuart, and Nancy Nickell — voted Yes in favor of publication.
