[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6667871,"mediaKeyId","2253513-43500870481f3ec7e0d616e82ebe603f","parentId",2253513,"title","City staff outlines League of Kansas Municipalities priorities; officials flag home rule, sales-tax risk and housing","audioSeconds",787,"startMs",1829000,"endMs",2616000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2253513-43500870481f3ec7e0d616e82ebe603f&start=1829&end=2616","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2253513-43500870481f3ec7e0d616e82ebe603f/thumbnail_1829000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6667871/Kansas/City-staff-outlines-League-of-Kansas-Municipalities-priorities-officials-flag-home-rule-sales-tax-risk-and-housing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6667871-4cb4d6dfacfba15274c8d0102e666fcd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437725&Signature=KDvj69STf3PsLuQIofcbZ8RS7NE-KoG98wxz4MY378uka3F7BExangWOJyqCu9-B-N3dmrwXTuavI0mTK05k4TnFB3ft2q0HmfeLPIvWfU1atiLWviHoupq86MjDadiJNy~CIgKpDRQzOlfj3GkMkugix8KaN9BMylFoo2Ai~Z1efx0O8dSQHemIG8NIDwOkCbJY-SvCbsf0uVeUdmQyTxwl~sYdBA9LHAkAb6dhc~kePtJ3YMeWTeDHZBvjoYC2T0uYubJ-Ex~RPfgPTXxNTTJdoMY9UYSFBhJC9jXpIjkBG0G29kkKB267TuZdLABdS59sBBQKYqhzBYPQMDBODg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Leavenworth, KS","date","2025-01-11T18:05:20.353Z","article","A city staff member briefed the Leavenworth City Commission on Dec. 18 about the League of Kansas Municipalities (LKM) legislative priorities for the upcoming state session, emphasizing threats to local \"home rule,\" potential changes to sales tax exemptions and concerns around housing and mental-health resources.

The presenter said LKM provided a long policy list but identified seven top priorities; staff highlighted four most relevant to Leavenworth: home rule protection, sales-tax exemptions for groceries, housing and homelessness supports, and mental-health funding. \"Sales tax exemptions'... early numbers calculated up to a million dollars a year in lost revenue for the city of Leavenworth,\" the presenter said, adding that any statewide change that removes local taxing authority would be of particular concern.

Staff said they are already scheduling meetings with state representatives and their staff and will bring requests for letters of support or opposition to the commission as agenda items when appropriate. The presenter also said the city will soon hire an assistant to the city manager whose duties will include tracking the legislative session and providing updates to the commission.

On housing and homelessness, staff recommended focusing incentives and tax credits on the types of housing that would increase family residency rather than senior-only projects. \"If we incentivize senior housing that is going to bring seniors in from the metro area... that doesn't really solve our housing problem,\" the presenter said, noting that the city wants homes that would enroll children in USD 453.

Mental health and homelessness were described as regional problems that require state resources and coordination with regional agencies. Staff said the city has already discussed regional opportunities with the Mid-America Regional Council and is prepared to participate in programs that would bring resources to the city.

Commissioners discussed bringing back a \"State of the City\"-style event before the next budget cycle to present accomplishments and outlook. Staff committed to frequent weekly updates and more structured reports as legislative items arise.

The presentation was informational. No formal commission votes were taken on legislative positions during the session; staff will return with specific recommendations if bills emerge that the city should support or oppose.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Leavenworth City Commission Regular Meeting December 17, 2024","oneSentenceSummary","City staff told the Leavenworth City Commission on Dec. 18 that it will monitor the upcoming Kansas legislative session and advocate for local priorities, calling out home rule, possible statewide sales-tax changes on groceries, housing strategy and mental-health funding as top concerns.","taxTitle","Leavenworth City, Leavenworth County, Kansas","taxId",53903,"location","Kansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6667876,"USD 453 superintendent warns enrollment drop is driving multimillion-dollar budget gap",1788,62000,1850000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2253513-43500870481f3ec7e0d616e82ebe603f&start=62&end=1850","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2253513-43500870481f3ec7e0d616e82ebe603f/thumbnail_62000.jpg","/articles/6667876/Kansas/USD-453-superintendent-warns-enrollment-drop-is-driving-multimillion-dollar-budget-gap","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6667876-fa2e8f53a7ba6a61135fbcbc679e4764/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437725&Signature=XPTFKeWN8EDokdaINsAuNl01Li-MfyP3tNbB4ZQ5HVEcNtxhdvdfq2mO~RtItQWX5~U5l6sJm0u3zvDAA5~W2GDxp6ZPd3OVBPMPNhZWcln180d15vQN94TDJQIiUrLi-TeeKCAAPNL3HMymAhN5qk-lKgj9QqY9SCzofqoSZPKsGXyWLUcQwFbYqBpq8RHi8uynvOzbgEznNWkYzkcFSm6Ntpkq2OOsyPDS0GGkpPi4pcUKXeVF2CMQZX4TJC1K2uqpGx7oLQv2QTHsn4gqmJXv3KUEI5pMCVprR4l05FOS0WqVSDh-tfwENjkzHo9PEdQ67a6VgBcpXWekg43SGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kellen Adams, superintendent of Unified School District 453, told the Leavenworth City Commission on Dec. 18 that the district is facing a sustained enrollment decline that is driving immediate and longer-term budget reductions.

Adams said the district's funding in Kansas is tied to student counts and related weightings. \"Simply put, we've been losing students,\" he said, and added that the district's peak enrollment was \"3,692\" (headcount) in the past decade while weighted full-time equivalency has fallen from almost 6,000 to just over 5,600 this year. Adams told commissioners the district faces a roughly $2,500,000 reduction to its general fund tied to enrollment declines and that officials are also preparing for a separate, substantial increase in insurance and other operating costs.

The superintendent identified three main drivers: fewer school-age children living in-district households, the end of federal ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds that had been used for some operating costs, and inflationary increases in items such as property/casualty and health insurance. \"Every student that qualifies as at-risk brings with them $2,500,\" Adams said, explaining how small shifts in student counts for free- and reduced-price lunch eligibility affect district revenue.

Adams said the decline is not primarily due to population loss in Leavenworth but to fewer households with school-age children and limited developable land within district boundaries. He said the district is exploring multiple responses: pursue any additional revenue (including outreach to families who left the district), use the revenue-neutral option for capital outlay where appropriate, pursue impact aid documentation for federally connected students, reduce nonessential subscriptions and purchases, and rely on attrition rather than immediate layoffs where possible.

On impact aid, Adams said the district has identified approximately 300 students who may qualify if families provide proper paperwork; he described the aid as \"real dollars\" but said families must submit documentation for the district to claim it.

Adams described a tiered approach to cost reductions, saying the district will try first to cut subscriptions and low-impact items before moving to higher-impact steps such as delaying raises or eliminating positions. \"We've got to minimize the impact on kids and minimize the impact on teachers,\" Adams said, while acknowledging that some course offerings or schedules could be altered if class sizes fall below viable levels.

Commissioners asked about military-connected students, homeschooling and virtual school options, expulsions and bullying. Adams said military-connected enrollment has not notably increased and that the district still offers virtual options through eighth grade. On expulsions he noted Kansas rules limit maximum expulsions to approximately one year and that families sometimes enroll students in other districts or virtual schools rather than wait out an expulsion.

Adams urged local leaders to consider housing and development policies that increase family housing in the district's boundaries. \"Providing more affordable housing, specifically within our district boundaries,\" he said, \"is one way to go.\" Several commissioners and staff responded that they are willing to discuss reimagining underused commercial parcels and pursuing housing strategies.

The presentation closed with Adams reiterating that USD 453 had been fiscally conservative and that the district seeks to use natural attrition and other measured steps to respond to the shortfall while preserving classroom instruction.

The superintendent's presentation was delivered as an informational report; the commission did not take a formal vote on district actions during the session.","Kellen Adams, superintendent of Unified School District 453, told the Leavenworth City Commission that a sustained decline in student enrollment and the end of federal COVID-era funding have combined with rising costs to create roughly $2.5 million in projected general-fund reductions and additional budget pressure.","actionData","errors"]

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City staff outlines League of Kansas Municipalities priorities; officials flag home rule, sales-tax risk and housing

USD 453 superintendent warns enrollment drop is driving multimillion-dollar budget gap