Overland Park, KS - At 6:30 tonight the Governing Body of the city of Overland Park will get its first look at a slimmer 2011 budget.

The meeting is in Conference Room 1, City Hall, 8500 Santa Fe Drive.

City Manager John Nachbar is proposing a budget that is 7.5 percent less than the 2010 adopted budget, which was six percent less than the 2009 budget.

The proposed 2011 budget is $218,195,000.

For property taxpayers, Overland Park's city mill rate is proposed to remain the same at 8.890 mills.

"We will continue to maintain our high-quality level of service for police, fire, public works, planning and more," said Nachbar. "This year's budget was also a challenge a year ago when it was first proposed. However, the city maintained its commitment to quality service, road projects, the soccer complex and more. We will do that in 2011."

Budget highlights include no change in service; reduction of full-time employees to 844, a 6.3 percent decrease from the 2010 budget of 901 employees; and no funding for salary increases in the operating budget. Any potential salary increase for 2011 will be determined by whether economic conditions improve and funding is available through contingency funds.

Thoroughfare improvements for 2011 include 159th Street widening from Antioch to Metcalf; Quivira Road widening from 99th Street to I-435; and 127th Street widening from Metcalf to Nall.

The four City Council committees will then review the recommended budget at each of their regular meetings in June and July.

For more information and details about the 2011 budget, visit the city's Web site and type in 2011 budget in the search box.

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Contact: City Manager John Nachbar, 913-895-6101