Sedgwick County leaders today are holding their annual financial retreat, at which commissioners get a forecast for the year to help them prepare for budget time in July.
The county’s financial plan estimates that assessed property valuations, up about 5 percent last year, will be up less than 1 percent this year and will decline 1.5 percent next year.
Sales and use taxes are expected to be down about 2 percent this year compared with almost 6 percent last year.
The county expects to see its investments continue to fall. Investment income plummeted about 60 percent last year, and leaders estimate it to be down another 31 percent this year, not turning around until next year.
The retreat, open to the public, continues until 2 p.m. at the county fire district’s station near Wild West World, 7750 N. Wild West Drive.