Topeka mayor says budget gap has narrowed; council to begin public deliberations in July

Mayor Spencer L. Duncan told reporters the city’s projected budget gap has narrowed from earlier projections and is now "closer to 11.5 million, give or take," a roughly $5 million improvement from months prior. He credited city staff and the city manager’s office for savings and said the work reflects a mix of careful spending, vacancy management and some revenue improvements.

Duncan described protecting core services — notably police, fire and essential public works — as the council’s top priority while asking departments to seek responsible efficiencies. He said some vacancies could remain unfilled, others consolidated, and that one-time fund balances may be used selectively but will not solve structural long-term deficits.

City staff and the mayor urged transparent engagement with residents on trade-offs. The mayor said a financial briefing will be presented to council on July 7, the proposed budget will be offered July 14, and deliberations will continue through September with a required adoption by Oct. 1. He explained the county’s "revenue-neutral rate" calculation and said the council may consider exceeding the county’s revenue-neutral figure while aiming not to raise the city’s mill levy.

On priorities, officials pointed to infrastructure, public safety, economic development and investments in city staff (including pending contract negotiations) as areas they aim to preserve. Duncan said department heads have been asked to look for efficiencies and make phased adjustments where possible to avoid sudden across-the-board cuts.

When asked whether there would be job cuts, the mayor said the city is not planning mass firings but acknowledged eliminating vacant positions is, technically, a reduction in FTEs; he described the current approach as holding or redirecting open positions rather than immediate layoffs.