by Keeley Young
What You Need to Know About the Estimated Tax Notices That Have Been Mailed:
This isn’t a bill. This necessary notification informs people of the potential costs of your appraised property at the proposed property tax mill rates from each local taxing authority.
When utilizing the current year’s total assessed valuation, the tax rate in mills that would produce the same amount of property tax revenue (in dollars) as the previous year is known as the Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR). A taxing body would have to use the same funds from the previous year’s budget to provide this year’s services at this year’s pricing in order to remain revenue neutral. A taxing agency may need to spend more property tax dollars to operate for a variety of reasons, including new projects or services, increases in staff pay, and rising supply costs.
Numerous property-taxing organizations, such as the City, County, School Districts, Community College, and others, split your property tax. A notice to exceed the revenue neutral rate must be filed and a public hearing must be set if any taxing entity decides to use more tax dollars next year than the current budget indicates.
Your anticipated notice amount is not your final tax amount. This estimate displays your potential tax liability. Usually, the budget for the City of Liberal is not determined until September. In the event that the budget does over the total property tax dollar amount from the previous year, we submit an intent to exceed RNR in order to meet state statutory deadlines for a possible increase. Our employees strive to provide public safety, basic services, and facilities that improve everyone’s quality of life while giving taxpayers the greatest benefit at the lowest possible cost.
For the last three years, property tax mills in the City of Liberal have either decreased or stayed the same:
- 2022 55.635
- 2023 53.288
- 2024 50.367
- Proposed 2025 50.367
The public hearing for the City of Liberal’s revenue neutral rate is set for Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers at the Liberal Recreation Center, located at 950 S. Grant. Residents have the chance to attend and express their opinions on the proposed property tax rate set by the city.
