Fire chiefs cite TIF, incentives and growth as budget pressures; districts propose mill-levy increases

Mark Dapp, deputy director for budget and financial planning, updated the Johnson County Board on proposed maximum‑expenditure budgets for several consolidated fire districts and the schedule for public hearings.

For Northwest Consolidated Fire District, Dapp said appraised value rose roughly 17% but the assessed valuation increase translated into a smaller ad‑valorem change; the district approved a maximum budget that represents about a 1.5‑mill increase above the current mill levy and scheduled a public hearing for Aug. 25. Chief Maxson told commissioners that more than half the district’s territory is subject to some tax incentive or development incentive, which has a major impact on revenue and requires continued intergovernmental work and MOUs to address funding shortfalls.

Commissioners pressed the district on whether fire districts have standing to object to TIF or CID formations and on whether franchise or incentive fees can be shared with fire service providers. Dapp and Chief Maxson said statutory standing is limited (the county and school districts have specific recourse) and that fire districts have been largely reactive when incentive matters appear on city agendas; they said conversations are ongoing about revenue-sharing but there is no automatic entitlement.

Dapp also summarized Consolidated Fire District No. 2: appraised values rose about 6.6% with an estimated 5.6% ad‑valorem revenue increase after exemptions. That district approved a maximum-expenditure budget authorizing roughly a 0.499‑mill increase above the 2026 budget; Dapp said that figure might be reduced (to about 0.35 mills) before adoption. Chief Chick described late changes to TIF valuations (one example: a $10 million TIF increase) and said the district is adjusting capital plans, considering bonding for a Station 21 remodel and using some reserve spending to lower near‑term mill‑levy pressure.

Commissioners requested more consistent budget templates, salary comparisons among districts, documentation of expenditures (including credit‑card audits), and information to clarify why districts require mill‑levy increases when some neighboring municipalities have not raised levies. Dapp and the chiefs agreed to incorporate those materials and return for a committee-of-the-whole presentation on Aug. 13.