Mayor Duncan Addresses Perez Resignation at First News Conference

Topeka Mayor Spencer Duncan and interim City Manager Michael Webb held their first joint news conference Wednesday morning at City Hall, marking the administration’s first public appearance since the departure of former City Manager Robert Perez. During the session, Duncan addressed the financial terms of Perez’s exit and outlined a push for increased fiscal oversight through the creation of a city auditor position, WIBW reported.

The transition comes at a time of administrative shift for the city. While the city moves toward a permanent replacement for the city manager role, the administration is simultaneously asking voters to consider structural changes to how the city handles its money and its most vulnerable populations.

The Cost of the Separation Agreement

A primary point of contention following Robert Perez’s resignation last week has been the financial package accompanying his departure. According to documents provided to 13 NEWS, Perez received $237,600.48 as part of his separation agreement. In addition to the cash payment, the city is covering nine months of health, dental, and life insurance premiums at the rate Perez had previously selected as an employee.

Mayor Duncan used Wednesday’s conference to push back against social media criticism regarding the payout, clarifying that Perez was not fired but resigned as his contract was nearing its conclusion. Duncan stated that Perez fulfilled the duties of his contract and maintained that the city’s Governing Body determined the compensation in the separation agreement was appropriate.

New Leadership and the Search for Stability

Stepping into the void is Michael Webb, who officially began his tenure as interim City Manager on Monday, Oct. 26. Webb brings experience from a similar role in Edwardsville, a suburb of Kansas City. Despite the leadership change, Webb projected a sense of calm regarding the city’s internal operations.

“I don’t see crisis here,” Webb said. “We have good staff, good leadership.”

The interim status is temporary. Duncan noted that the city intends to cast the “widest net” and utilize the “broadest approach” possible to attract the most qualified candidates for the permanent city manager position. The goal is to find a leader who can implement Duncan’s vision of operating the city “better and more efficiently.”

A Push for Fiscal Accountability

Beyond the personnel shuffle, the administration is moving toward a more rigorous auditing structure. Duncan announced that the city will hire an auditor to strengthen accountability regarding public finances and assist elected officials in making decisions. This move mirrors the governance models of other cities, such as Olathe, which already employ auditors for this purpose.

Mayor Duncan Addresses Perez Resignation at First News Conference

The path to this new role is twofold. First, the position has already been included in the city’s next budget, meaning a hire will happen regardless of legislative changes. Second, a special election is scheduled for March 2027, where Topeka residents will vote on whether to formally change the city charter to establish the auditor’s position.

This creates a curious timeline where the city will likely have an auditor in place before the voters have officially sanctioned the charter change. Duncan dismissed the idea of waiting for the election results, stating, “We’re not going to wait. We’re going to get that process started as fast as we can.”

The March 2027 Ballot Stakes

The March 2027 special election will not be limited to the auditor’s role. Voters will also decide on a proposed one-tenth of a cent sales tax. If approved, this tax would target funding for affordable housing and homeless services, with the revenue stream taking effect in July 2027.