The Salina City Commission unanimously approved the 2026 comprehensive fee schedule during Monday's meeting, which includes a 5% increase for water and wastewater consumption and monthly rate charges.
The fee schedule, which was reviewed by commissioners during study sessions in June and July, was part of the city's broader 2026 budget adoption process that concluded during the August 11 meeting.
Debbie Pack, Director of Finance, presented the comprehensive fee schedule as one of three action items related to the 2026 budget. According to Pack, other notable increases in the fee schedule include sanitation monthly service fees rising to $21.25 per month, representing a 7.6% increase, and cart fees increasing by $1 per month.
"The comprehensive fee schedule was reviewed by city commission during study sessions in June and July and has been provided by staff," Pack told commissioners during her presentation.
The water and wastewater rate increases were briefly mentioned during Pack's budget overview but weren't specifically discussed in detail during the public hearing portion of the meeting.
The city commission voted 5-0 to approve Resolution Number 25-8302, which formally adopts the 2026 comprehensive fee schedule for the City of Salina.
The fee schedule adoption was part of a broader budget process that began in April. The commission also approved the 2026 budget with a revenue neutral mill levy of 28.568, which represents a reduction from the current levy rate of 29.417 mills.
The overall 2026 budget includes total expenditures of $155,959,330, excluding transfers and cash reserves, representing a 2.7% increase from the 2025 budget.
