TMP-Marian at Medicine Lodge March, 3rd, 6 p.m Medicine Lodge, Kan.

Radio:&nbsp;KHAZ (99.5)&nbsp;<a href="https://99kzcountry.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> <a href="https://mix103fm.com/"></a>Video:&nbsp;Monarchs Sports Network<a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/3781543">&nbsp;CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>

The TMP-Marian Monarchs travel to Medicine Lodge Tuesday night to take on the Medicine Lodge Indians in the sub-state semifinals.

Tip-off for the game is set for 6:00 p.m. The Hertz Rent-a-Car Pregame Show begins at 5:40 p.m. on 99.5 KZ Country.

<figure>
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 </figure>TMP-Marian at Medicine Lodge March, 3rd, 6 p.m Medicine Lodge, Kan.Radio:&nbsp;KHAZ (99.5)&nbsp;<a href="https://99kzcountry.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> <a href="https://mix103fm.com/"></a>Video:&nbsp;Monarchs Sports Network<a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/3781543">&nbsp;CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>The TMP-Marian Monarchs travel to Medicine Lodge Tuesday night to take on the Medicine Lodge Indians in the sub-state semifinals.Tip-off for the game is set for 6:00 p.m. The Hertz Rent-a-Car Pregame Show begins at 5:40 p.m. on 99.5 KZ Country.

🏀🎥 TMP-Marian Monarchs travel to Medicine Lodge

Hays High vs Goddard-Eisenhower Tuesday, Mar. 3 - 6:00 Hays, Kan.

Radio:&nbsp;KFIX (96.9)&nbsp;<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KFIX">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> <a href="https://mix103fm.com/"></a>Video:&nbsp;Hays High Sports Network &nbsp; WATCH HERE - <a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/3781505?autoplay=1">CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE</a> &nbsp;

Hays High opens up postseason basketball by hosting Eisenhower on Tuesday evening.

The Indians are coming off an undefeated Western Athletic Conference championship on Friday. Hays captured the five seed with an 18-4 record. Eisenhower enters the postseason as the twelve seed and has a 10-12 record.

Winner of this game faces the winner to (4) Topeka Seaman and (11) Valley Center on Friday.

Tip-off for tonight is set for 6:00. The Hertz Pregame Show will begin at 5:40 on 96.9 KFIX.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694699014932.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>Hays High vs Goddard-Eisenhower Tuesday, Mar. 3 - 6:00 Hays, Kan.Radio:&nbsp;KFIX (96.9)&nbsp;<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KFIX">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> <a href="https://mix103fm.com/"></a>Video:&nbsp;Hays High Sports Network &nbsp; WATCH HERE - <a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/3781505?autoplay=1">CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE</a> &nbsp;Hays High opens up postseason basketball by hosting Eisenhower on Tuesday evening.The Indians are coming off an undefeated Western Athletic Conference championship on Friday. Hays captured the five seed with an 18-4 record. Eisenhower enters the postseason as the twelve seed and has a 10-12 record.Winner of this game faces the winner to (4) Topeka Seaman and (11) Valley Center on Friday.Tip-off for tonight is set for 6:00. The Hertz Pregame Show will begin at 5:40 on 96.9 KFIX.&nbsp;Video is available at the above link.

🏀📺 Hays High boys open postseason with Eisenhower

1510 E Iron Ave, Salina – Great location with convenient access and visibility. Office space available for immediate lease. Ideal for professional services, medical, or administrative use. Close to Indian Rock Park and USD 305 offices.

For Information Contact: Jeff Maes or Mike Wilson at (785) 493-8500, <a href="mailto:jeffm@comprorealty.com">jeffm@comprorealty.com</a>&nbsp;or <a href="mailto:mwilson@comprorealty.com">mwilson@comprorealty.com</a>

1510 E Iron Ave, Salina – Great location with convenient access and visibility. Office space available for immediate lease. Ideal for professional services, medical, or administrative use. Close to Indian Rock Park and USD 305 offices.For Information Contact: Jeff Maes or Mike Wilson at (785) 493-8500, <a href="mailto:jeffm@comprorealty.com">jeffm@comprorealty.com</a>&nbsp;or <a href="mailto:mwilson@comprorealty.com">mwilson@comprorealty.com</a> <figure>
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News from the Oil Patch: Crude, pump prices skyrocket

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission discussed the process for reviewing and approving plats for future subdevelopment projects during its Tuesday meeting.

Commissioner Nathan Leiker suggested not approving development plats until the county's subdivision regulations are updated.

"I thought now would be a good time to pause and reevaluate some of the topics that we've seen arise in the past several zoning certificates that have been awarded," Leiker said.

County Counselor Bill Jeter said there are inconsistencies in the language of zoning regulations that need clarification, but that does not warrant temporarily halting new applications.

"In some instances, we've got inconsistent languages in one part of the regulation as opposed to another part of the regulation," Jeter said.

The commission described it as fine-tuning regulations based on its experiences with past subdevelopments. The commission will compile a list of concerns to create potential updates.

Commissioners agreed to exclude Big Creek Estates Third Addition and the pending Tallgrass development solar project from any future regulatory changes.

Minimum road design and construction standards

The commission approved updating minimum road design and construction standards for roads in platted subdivisions and developments.

The standards set minimum requirements for roadway and drainage improvements, and outline a process for owners of subdivisions to request exceptions to those standards.

Kansas local bridge improvement program agreement

The commission approved a Kansas Department of Transportation agreement to improve three bridges after the county was awarded about $4.36 million.

These include one bridge that goes over the Saline River, one on Saline River Road and one in the 2100 block of 100th Avenue.

• The commission heard an update on the High Plains Mental Health Crisis Intervention Center project. An open house of the center is set for April 16

• The commission reappointed Dylan Bryant to the county library board as his current term expires on April 30. He will serve a new four-year term

• The commission approved a request to send Ellis County Health Department staff to attend the 2026 Governor's Public Health Conference. Their office will be closed from March 30 to April 1.

• The commission approved the County Appraiser's extension request to delay the mailing of real property certified valuation notices from the March 1 deadline to March 16.

• The commission conducted an annual examination of revenue and expenses reports from townships. County Clerk Bobbi Dreiling verified that the reports are accurate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684183971486.png" alt="Ellis County" />
 <figcaption>Ellis County</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThe Ellis County Commission discussed the process for reviewing and approving plats for future subdevelopment projects during its Tuesday meeting.Commissioner Nathan Leiker suggested not approving development plats until the county's subdivision regulations are updated."I thought now would be a good time to pause and reevaluate some of the topics that we've seen arise in the past several zoning certificates that have been awarded," Leiker said.County Counselor Bill Jeter said there are inconsistencies in the language of zoning regulations that need clarification, but that does not warrant temporarily halting new applications."In some instances, we've got inconsistent languages in one part of the regulation as opposed to another part of the regulation," Jeter said.The commission described it as fine-tuning regulations based on its experiences with past subdevelopments. The commission will compile a list of concerns to create potential updates.Commissioners agreed to exclude Big Creek Estates Third Addition and the pending Tallgrass development solar project from any future regulatory changes.Minimum road design and construction standardsThe commission approved updating minimum road design and construction standards for roads in platted subdivisions and developments.The standards set minimum requirements for roadway and drainage improvements, and outline a process for owners of subdivisions to request exceptions to those standards.Kansas local bridge improvement program agreementThe commission approved a Kansas Department of Transportation agreement to improve three bridges after the county was awarded about $4.36 million.These include one bridge that goes over the Saline River, one on Saline River Road and one in the 2100 block of 100th Avenue.Other business• The commission heard an update on the High Plains Mental Health Crisis Intervention Center project. An open house of the center is set for April 16• The commission reappointed Dylan Bryant to the county library board as his current term expires on April 30. He will serve a new four-year term• The commission approved a request to send Ellis County Health Department staff to attend the 2026 Governor's Public Health Conference. Their office will be closed from March 30 to April 1.• The commission approved the County Appraiser's extension request to delay the mailing of real property certified valuation notices from the March 1 deadline to March 16.• The commission conducted an annual examination of revenue and expenses reports from townships. County Clerk Bobbi Dreiling verified that the reports are accurate.

Ellis County Commission discusses updating plat approval process

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Ellis County Jail bookings: Feb. 22-28, 2026

City of Hays<figure>
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March events and activities in Hays 

Following weekend airstrikes in Iran, rising crude oil prices could push gasoline costs higher within weeks.

By RAFAEL GARCIA <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/news/articles/2026/03/economist-forecasts-gas-price-increase-following-iran-attacks.html">K-State News and Communications Services</a> It may be months or even years before the long-term geopolitical ramifications of this weekend's airstrikes in Iran become clear, but a Kansas State University agricultural economist says gas prices are likely to spike in the coming weeks.

<a href="https://www.ageconomics.k-state.edu/about/people/directory/faculty_directory/ibendahl/">Gregg Ibendahl</a>, associate professor of agricultural economics, specializes in agricultural production and finance, especially fuel pricing seasonality and impacts to the ag industry.

As a region, the Middle East is the world's leading producer of oil, and any uncertainty in the stability of the region's governments, economies and shipping capacity has typically resulted in price shocks, Ibendahl said.

Following airstrikes on Saturday that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and subsequent reciprocal strikes, crude oil futures had already risen 8%, from $67 per barrel on Friday to $72 on Monday morning.

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agmanager.info/production-economics/prices-and-price-forecasts/what-does-middle-eastern-war-mean-gas-prices">analyzing 20 years of oil and gas price data</a>, Ibendahl found that in the immediate term, gas prices typically go up about 2.4 cents per gallon for every $1 increase in oil's price per barrel.

"Prior to this weekend, U.S. regular gasoline averaged $2.98 per gallon nationally," Ibendahl said. "With the baseline $6 per barrel increase, prices could rise to between $3.10 and $3.16 within a month. Remember too, oil prices rose to $130 per barrel shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, leading to gas prices of $5 per gallon."

Spikes in crude oil prices usually lead to a similar change in gasoline prices in the subsequent week, Ibendahl said. But crucially, crude oil movements can influence pump prices for more than a month, especially when uncertainty remains about the future stability of an oil-producing region.

Ibendahl's forecast, he pointed out, does not take into account other factors, such as extended violence or suspended traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — an Iranian-controlled 21-mile chokepoint through which about 20% of globally traded oil passes.

A shutdown of the strait could lead to oil prices that are well over $100 per barrel, or even more if warfare in the region starts targeting oil production facilities.

At that point, gas prices at the pump quickly start approaching $4 per gallon — or even more, if oil prices follow a similar trajectory to the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"Longer term, the price increase could be 4.2 cents per gallon for every dollar per barrel," Ibendahl said. "While conflict may be occurring in the Persian Gulf, the resulting impact on gas prices will be felt at stations nationwide before the end of the month."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772553222639.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy K-State&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy K-State&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Following weekend airstrikes in Iran, rising crude oil prices could push gasoline costs higher within weeks.</h2>By RAFAEL GARCIA <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/news/articles/2026/03/economist-forecasts-gas-price-increase-following-iran-attacks.html">K-State News and Communications Services</a> It may be months or even years before the long-term geopolitical ramifications of this weekend's airstrikes in Iran become clear, but a Kansas State University agricultural economist says gas prices are likely to spike in the coming weeks.<a href="https://www.ageconomics.k-state.edu/about/people/directory/faculty_directory/ibendahl/">Gregg Ibendahl</a>, associate professor of agricultural economics, specializes in agricultural production and finance, especially fuel pricing seasonality and impacts to the ag industry.As a region, the Middle East is the world's leading producer of oil, and any uncertainty in the stability of the region's governments, economies and shipping capacity has typically resulted in price shocks, Ibendahl said.Following airstrikes on Saturday that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and subsequent reciprocal strikes, crude oil futures had already risen 8%, from $67 per barrel on Friday to $72 on Monday morning.<h2>What history suggests about pump prices</h2>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agmanager.info/production-economics/prices-and-price-forecasts/what-does-middle-eastern-war-mean-gas-prices">analyzing 20 years of oil and gas price data</a>, Ibendahl found that in the immediate term, gas prices typically go up about 2.4 cents per gallon for every $1 increase in oil's price per barrel."Prior to this weekend, U.S. regular gasoline averaged $2.98 per gallon nationally," Ibendahl said. "With the baseline $6 per barrel increase, prices could rise to between $3.10 and $3.16 within a month. Remember too, oil prices rose to $130 per barrel shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, leading to gas prices of $5 per gallon."Spikes in crude oil prices usually lead to a similar change in gasoline prices in the subsequent week, Ibendahl said. But crucially, crude oil movements can influence pump prices for more than a month, especially when uncertainty remains about the future stability of an oil-producing region.<h2>Gas prices could climb even higher</h2>Ibendahl's forecast, he pointed out, does not take into account other factors, such as extended violence or suspended traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — an Iranian-controlled 21-mile chokepoint through which about 20% of globally traded oil passes.A shutdown of the strait could lead to oil prices that are well over $100 per barrel, or even more if warfare in the region starts targeting oil production facilities.At that point, gas prices at the pump quickly start approaching $4 per gallon — or even more, if oil prices follow a similar trajectory to the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine."Longer term, the price increase could be 4.2 cents per gallon for every dollar per barrel," Ibendahl said. "While conflict may be occurring in the Persian Gulf, the resulting impact on gas prices will be felt at stations nationwide before the end of the month."

Will gas hit $4? K-State economist breaks down numbers

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/category/obituaries">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/corrections-about-us">Click HERE for the Hays Post obituary policy.&nbsp;</a>

How to submit an obituary to the Hays Post

Please email obituaries to haysobits@eaglemedia.com and include your phone number.&nbsp;

Please allow up to 24 hours from the submission of the obituary for it to be posted on the Hays Post.&nbsp;

If you have questions, please contact Scarlett Deutscher at 785-301-2211.&nbsp;

If you have an issue outside of business hours or your obit has not been published within 24 hours, please email <a href="mailto:hayspost@eaglemedia.com" target="_blank">hayspost@eaglemedia.com</a> or call Cristina Janney, Hays Post editor, at 785-301-2077.&nbsp;

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/category/obituaries">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/corrections-about-us">Click HERE for the Hays Post obituary policy.&nbsp;</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/7/1561995642681.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>How to submit an obituary to the Hays Post</h2>Please email obituaries to haysobits@eaglemedia.com and include your phone number.&nbsp;Please allow up to 24 hours from the submission of the obituary for it to be posted on the Hays Post.&nbsp;If you have questions, please contact Scarlett Deutscher at 785-301-2211.&nbsp;If you have an issue outside of business hours or your obit has not been published within 24 hours, please email <a href="mailto:hayspost@eaglemedia.com" target="_blank">hayspost@eaglemedia.com</a> or call Cristina Janney, Hays Post editor, at 785-301-2077.&nbsp;

Recent obituaries, how to submit an obituary

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/dale-hogg/">DALE HOGG</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/25/kansas-homeowners-carry-bigger-tax-burden-than-commercial-property-owners/">Kansas Reflector</a>

GREAT BEND — A yawning gap between surging home values and stagnant commercial assessments has fueled a significant shift in the Kansas property tax burden, forcing homeowners to shoulder a larger share of government needs, state and local officials say.

Driven by an overheated residential market and decades of commercial exemptions, a flip in the tax base has left families paying the lion’s share for schools, roads and emergency services.

Despite commercial property being taxed at more than double the rate of residential property, Rep. Adam Smith, a Weskan Republican and chair of the House Taxation Committee, said the “sheer velocity” of home price increases has outpaced the higher commercial rate.

“Value is whatever you are willing to pay for it,” Smith said.

Sean Robertson, Saline County appraiser and legislative liaison for the Kansas County Appraisers Association, said that residential and commercial property tax burdens shifted toward businesses after changes that began 40 years ago.

In 1985, the Legislature authorized a statewide reappraisal of all real estate properties. New valuations were set for 1989.

“Most properties at that time had not been revalued for many years, and sometimes decades, which created horrible inequities between similar properties in terms of valuation and taxes,” Robertson said.

Kansans passed a constitutional amendment by popular vote in 1990 that set the tax rate for residential properties at 11.5% of appraised value and the rate for commercial properties at 25%.

Although there are other property classifications — including agricultural, nonprofit, vacant and utility — residential and commercial are the largest revenue drivers by a wide margin.

“Once the dust settled” from these changes, Robertson said, residential property owners in 1997 paid 38% of total statewide property taxes while other classifications, primarily commercial, accounted for the remaining 62%.

“Over the past 30-plus years, though, those percentages have changed dramatically,” Robertson said.

In 2024, residential property owners paid 57% of all property taxes while commercial and other property owners paid 43%.

Three factors caused this shift, Robertson said.

“First, exempting properties from paying taxes does not simply absolve those properties from paying taxes,” he said. “Exemptions cause a shift of property tax responsibility onto other properties which are not exempted.”

In 2006, any newly acquired commercial or industrial machinery and equipment was exempted from property tax. This pushed commercial property owners to purchase new equipment that would then be exempt going forward.

Barton County Commissioner Barb Esfeld, the county’s former appraiser of 30 years, said the Kansas Legislature has systematically removed items from tax rolls, including certain business machinery, boats and personal property, often to attract new business.

“What they’ve done is taken that pie and put more of it on real estate and residential,” Esfeld said. “Residential feels it the most because it’s not income-generating.”

Commercial properties built with Industrial Revenue Bonds or given economic development exemptions by local boards can be avoid property taxes for up to 10 years.&nbsp;

“Although these exemptions are useful economic incentive tools that can be beneficial to a community in the long run, they remove possible revenue streams that pay for public services and transfer the tax burden to other property types for a period,” Robertson said.

Second, commercial properties are often given special considerations. For example, he said, if a commercial property has its value reduced as part of a hearing with the county appraiser or the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals, that value is maintained for an additional two years.

“This does not apply to residential properties that get a valuation reduced through the same process,” Robertson said. “That combination results in a wide swath of statutorily stagnant commercial values.”

Finally, home sale prices — driven by low supply, high demand, increased cost of building materials and low interest rates — have increased nearly 100% in the past eight years, from a median sale price of $159,000 in 2016 to $305,000 in 2024.

At the same time, commercial loan values (a measure of commercial sales activity) have increased by half that margin.

“The short version is that the market value of residential properties is rising at a much faster rate than the market value of commercial properties,” Robertson said.

“There have been two things in recent years that have kept the disparity between residential and commercial taxes at a relative minimum,” Robertson said.&nbsp;

In 2024, the median appraised valuation of residential properties for taxation purposes was lower than the median sale price in all 105 Kansas counties. So, despite still rising values, counties in Kansas are undervaluing residential properties, on the whole, compared to sale prices.

Additionally, there is an exemption of up to $172.50 currently taken off the property tax bill for every residential property in Kansas. This is an increase of the $46 exemption taken off each residential tax bill as recently as 2021.

“Without these two realities, residential property owners in Kansas would be paying an even greater share of taxes compared to commercial property owners than they already do,” he said. “This trend does not need to continue, though.”

Most of the solutions for narrowing the disparity between residential and commercial property taxes require legislative or constitutional changes, Robertson said.

Raising the exemption for residential properties from $172.50 would help reduce residential taxes, and, therefore, narrow the difference. Targeted circuit breakers or means-testing could be introduced to provide residential property owners with rebates or refunds.

“Also, a lower assessment rate for residential properties could be applied,” Robertson said. “A cousin to that approach is the Gallagher Amendment, which was used in Colorado for many years.”

This method (before its repeal in 2020) made it a requirement for residential properties to pay no more than 45% of the total property taxes in the state. This required a recalculation of the residential assessment rate each year, but kept the balance between residential and commercial taxes even.

In an effort to curb the effect of rising market values, Kansas lawmakers have proposed the Cap Assessed Value Protection Amendment, Esfeld said. This constitutional change would limit annual property tax assessment increases to 3% for most real estate and residential mobile homes beginning in 2027.

To address recent market volatility, the measure includes a look-back provision that would cap 2027 assessments at no more than 3% above their 2022 levels, effectively rolling back significant valuation spikes seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the cap would generally remain in place even after a property is sold, exceptions would be made for new construction, major improvements or assessment errors.

Critics like Esfeld argue the amendment is a superficial solution to a deeper systemic problem.

Because local government budgets for essential services are relatively fixed, Esfeld warns that capping valuations will simply force a mathematical spike in the mill levy to cover the funding gap. She said that the real issue is an eroding tax base caused by decades of state-level exemptions, which have steadily shifted the overall tax burden onto homeowners.

She said the cap acts as a “Band-Aid on a bleeding ulcer” that may offer temporary relief while potentially destabilizing local government funding and penalizing economic growth.

Also, by looking back to 2022 and its lower values for the 2027 tax year, it won’t take long before many properties are extremely undervalued, Smith said. That would lead to a painful correction for taxpayers, similar to the mass statewide reappraisal in the late 1980s.

This was a massive and costly undertaking designed to ensure all properties were valued at their fair market value. Today, state statute requires that appraisals remain within 10% of market value.

“We don’t want to go back to then,” Smith said.

Currently, the state collects 20 mills on each tax bill for school funding, Robertson said.&nbsp;

“It may be possible, depending on the courts’ interpretation of how a school funding plan is administered, to eliminate that portion of the property tax bill for Kansans and fund schools through some other mechanism” he said.

That would lower the tax rate on every property tax bill in Kansas by a significant amount.

“On the local level, budget equals tax. It is no more complicated than that; reducing a budget is the only way to reduce taxes,” Robertson said. But, here is the rub — reducing a budget at the local level likely means reducing or eliminating services.”

However, “citizens like police protection, fire protection, ambulance services, roads that are passable, parks that are clean, etc.,” he said. “What are citizens willing to forego in favor of lower taxes? That is a question that can only be answered by local taxing authority boards and their constituents.”

Ultimately, “it comes down to growth,” Smith said.&nbsp;“We have to grow our valuation. It’s a matter of economic development.”

Esfeld suggested that true relief would require a more drastic reduction in mill levies, perhaps supported by state-level sales tax transfers, rather than capping appraisals.

“I keep thinking that is the answer,” Esfeld said. “The only thing that would keep this from being a problem is new construction.”

This would include homes, businesses and industrial expansion. Not only would such construction spread the property tax burden out, but it would also generate sales taxes and hospitality taxes, she said.

Esfeld noted that even though the proposed cap looks back to 2022, properties that saw improvements between then and now would not qualify. This would remove any incentive for new building.

“Economic development might as well go out the window,” she said. “It penalizes growth.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772216134151.jpeg" alt="Kansas lawmakers are grappling with how to equalize property taxes paid by residential property owners and those paid by their commercial counterparts. Dale Hogg/ Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption>Kansas lawmakers are grappling with how to equalize property taxes paid by residential property owners and those paid by their commercial counterparts. Dale Hogg/ Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/dale-hogg/">DALE HOGG</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/25/kansas-homeowners-carry-bigger-tax-burden-than-commercial-property-owners/">Kansas Reflector</a>GREAT BEND — A yawning gap between surging home values and stagnant commercial assessments has fueled a significant shift in the Kansas property tax burden, forcing homeowners to shoulder a larger share of government needs, state and local officials say.Driven by an overheated residential market and decades of commercial exemptions, a flip in the tax base has left families paying the lion’s share for schools, roads and emergency services.Despite commercial property being taxed at more than double the rate of residential property, Rep. Adam Smith, a Weskan Republican and chair of the House Taxation Committee, said the “sheer velocity” of home price increases has outpaced the higher commercial rate.“Value is whatever you are willing to pay for it,” Smith said.<h2>How did we get here?</h2>Sean Robertson, Saline County appraiser and legislative liaison for the Kansas County Appraisers Association, said that residential and commercial property tax burdens shifted toward businesses after changes that began 40 years ago.In 1985, the Legislature authorized a statewide reappraisal of all real estate properties. New valuations were set for 1989.“Most properties at that time had not been revalued for many years, and sometimes decades, which created horrible inequities between similar properties in terms of valuation and taxes,” Robertson said.Kansans passed a constitutional amendment by popular vote in 1990 that set the tax rate for residential properties at 11.5% of appraised value and the rate for commercial properties at 25%.Although there are other property classifications — including agricultural, nonprofit, vacant and utility — residential and commercial are the largest revenue drivers by a wide margin.“Once the dust settled” from these changes, Robertson said, residential property owners in 1997 paid 38% of total statewide property taxes while other classifications, primarily commercial, accounted for the remaining 62%.“Over the past 30-plus years, though, those percentages have changed dramatically,” Robertson said.In 2024, residential property owners paid 57% of all property taxes while commercial and other property owners paid 43%.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772215924958.jpeg" alt="From left, Barb Esfeld, Barton County commissioner and former county appraiser, discusses her concerns about the proposed state property valuation caps with fellow commissioner Tricia Schlessiger, center, and Duane Reif during a Feb. 3, 2026, meeting. Dale Hogg/Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption>From left, Barb Esfeld, Barton County commissioner and former county appraiser, discusses her concerns about the proposed state property valuation caps with fellow commissioner Tricia Schlessiger, center, and Duane Reif during a Feb. 3, 2026, meeting. Dale Hogg/Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>What caused the flip?</h2>Three factors caused this shift, Robertson said.“First, exempting properties from paying taxes does not simply absolve those properties from paying taxes,” he said. “Exemptions cause a shift of property tax responsibility onto other properties which are not exempted.”In 2006, any newly acquired commercial or industrial machinery and equipment was exempted from property tax. This pushed commercial property owners to purchase new equipment that would then be exempt going forward.Barton County Commissioner Barb Esfeld, the county’s former appraiser of 30 years, said the Kansas Legislature has systematically removed items from tax rolls, including certain business machinery, boats and personal property, often to attract new business.“What they’ve done is taken that pie and put more of it on real estate and residential,” Esfeld said. “Residential feels it the most because it’s not income-generating.”Commercial properties built with Industrial Revenue Bonds or given economic development exemptions by local boards can be avoid property taxes for up to 10 years.&nbsp;“Although these exemptions are useful economic incentive tools that can be beneficial to a community in the long run, they remove possible revenue streams that pay for public services and transfer the tax burden to other property types for a period,” Robertson said.Second, commercial properties are often given special considerations. For example, he said, if a commercial property has its value reduced as part of a hearing with the county appraiser or the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals, that value is maintained for an additional two years.“This does not apply to residential properties that get a valuation reduced through the same process,” Robertson said. “That combination results in a wide swath of statutorily stagnant commercial values.”Finally, home sale prices — driven by low supply, high demand, increased cost of building materials and low interest rates — have increased nearly 100% in the past eight years, from a median sale price of $159,000 in 2016 to $305,000 in 2024.At the same time, commercial loan values (a measure of commercial sales activity) have increased by half that margin.“The short version is that the market value of residential properties is rising at a much faster rate than the market value of commercial properties,” Robertson said.<h2>What about the future?</h2>“There have been two things in recent years that have kept the disparity between residential and commercial taxes at a relative minimum,” Robertson said.&nbsp;In 2024, the median appraised valuation of residential properties for taxation purposes was lower than the median sale price in all 105 Kansas counties. So, despite still rising values, counties in Kansas are undervaluing residential properties, on the whole, compared to sale prices.Additionally, there is an exemption of up to $172.50 currently taken off the property tax bill for every residential property in Kansas. This is an increase of the $46 exemption taken off each residential tax bill as recently as 2021.“Without these two realities, residential property owners in Kansas would be paying an even greater share of taxes compared to commercial property owners than they already do,” he said. “This trend does not need to continue, though.”<h2>Narrowing the gap</h2>Most of the solutions for narrowing the disparity between residential and commercial property taxes require legislative or constitutional changes, Robertson said.Raising the exemption for residential properties from $172.50 would help reduce residential taxes, and, therefore, narrow the difference. Targeted circuit breakers or means-testing could be introduced to provide residential property owners with rebates or refunds.“Also, a lower assessment rate for residential properties could be applied,” Robertson said. “A cousin to that approach is the Gallagher Amendment, which was used in Colorado for many years.”This method (before its repeal in 2020) made it a requirement for residential properties to pay no more than 45% of the total property taxes in the state. This required a recalculation of the residential assessment rate each year, but kept the balance between residential and commercial taxes even.In an effort to curb the effect of rising market values, Kansas lawmakers have proposed the Cap Assessed Value Protection Amendment, Esfeld said. This constitutional change would limit annual property tax assessment increases to 3% for most real estate and residential mobile homes beginning in 2027.To address recent market volatility, the measure includes a look-back provision that would cap 2027 assessments at no more than 3% above their 2022 levels, effectively rolling back significant valuation spikes seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.While the cap would generally remain in place even after a property is sold, exceptions would be made for new construction, major improvements or assessment errors.Critics like Esfeld argue the amendment is a superficial solution to a deeper systemic problem.Because local government budgets for essential services are relatively fixed, Esfeld warns that capping valuations will simply force a mathematical spike in the mill levy to cover the funding gap. She said that the real issue is an eroding tax base caused by decades of state-level exemptions, which have steadily shifted the overall tax burden onto homeowners.She said the cap acts as a “Band-Aid on a bleeding ulcer” that may offer temporary relief while potentially destabilizing local government funding and penalizing economic growth.Also, by looking back to 2022 and its lower values for the 2027 tax year, it won’t take long before many properties are extremely undervalued, Smith said. That would lead to a painful correction for taxpayers, similar to the mass statewide reappraisal in the late 1980s.This was a massive and costly undertaking designed to ensure all properties were valued at their fair market value. Today, state statute requires that appraisals remain within 10% of market value.“We don’t want to go back to then,” Smith said.<h2>What about lower property taxes for all?</h2>Currently, the state collects 20 mills on each tax bill for school funding, Robertson said.&nbsp;“It may be possible, depending on the courts’ interpretation of how a school funding plan is administered, to eliminate that portion of the property tax bill for Kansans and fund schools through some other mechanism” he said.That would lower the tax rate on every property tax bill in Kansas by a significant amount.“On the local level, budget equals tax. It is no more complicated than that; reducing a budget is the only way to reduce taxes,” Robertson said. But, here is the rub — reducing a budget at the local level likely means reducing or eliminating services.”However, “citizens like police protection, fire protection, ambulance services, roads that are passable, parks that are clean, etc.,” he said. “What are citizens willing to forego in favor of lower taxes? That is a question that can only be answered by local taxing authority boards and their constituents.”Ultimately, “it comes down to growth,” Smith said.&nbsp;“We have to grow our valuation. It’s a matter of economic development.”Esfeld suggested that true relief would require a more drastic reduction in mill levies, perhaps supported by state-level sales tax transfers, rather than capping appraisals.But she agreed with Smith overall.“I keep thinking that is the answer,” Esfeld said. “The only thing that would keep this from being a problem is new construction.”This would include homes, businesses and industrial expansion. Not only would such construction spread the property tax burden out, but it would also generate sales taxes and hospitality taxes, she said.Esfeld noted that even though the proposed cap looks back to 2022, properties that saw improvements between then and now would not qualify. This would remove any incentive for new building.“Economic development might as well go out the window,” she said. “It penalizes growth.”

Kansas homeowners carry bigger tax burden than commercial property owners

By&nbsp;ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD and BRIAN AMOS Insight Kansas

As political scientists who study Kansas politics, election administration, and political participation—and as the coauthors of a recent statistical analysis of Kansas’ special elections—we are compelled to speak out against Kansas House Bill 2503.

The bill would repeal the state’s 1983 Mail Ballot Election Act and prohibit municipalities from conducting all-mail elections. This proposal is not merely a matter of administrative preference; it runs directly counter to what the data tell us about how Kansans, especially rural Kansans, participate in our democracy.

In our research on 39 Kansas special elections conducted in 2024 and 2025, we examined turnout under two different systems: traditional in-person elections and elections conducted entirely by mail. These contests, often focused on school bond issues or local tax proposals, represent some of the most consequential—but also least visible—governance decisions affecting Kansas communities.

When elections were conducted entirely by mail, turnout increased dramatically. After carefully matching rural and urban voters on demographics, party registration, and turnout history, we estimated that all-mail elections increased the probability of voting by 21.7 percentage points.

This is not a marginal difference. It is a structural one.

Just as important, the rural-urban turnout gap nearly disappeared. In traditionally administered elections, rural voters were 3.5 points less likely to participate than urban voters. But when provided an all-mail system, the rural-urban gap shrank to less than one percentage point.

In other words: all-mail elections do exactly what legislators claim to value—they promote equitable participation across all geographic regions of our state.

The data is clear: rural Kansans benefit from all-mail elections. The explanation is straightforward: voting is not costless, and those costs fall disproportionately on rural residents.

Rural Kansans often travel long distances to a polling location, rely on deteriorating roads and minimal public transportation, and live in jurisdictions that struggle to maintain sufficient polling places and staff. Political science research has long shown that even modest increases in the&nbsp;time or effort required to vote depress turnout. 

Put simply, rural Kansans face bigger hurdles when it comes to voting, and all-mail elections help remove those barriers.

Kansas has long embraced local control, particularly in election administration for special elections. County clerks and school districts understand their communities’ needs far better than legislators in Topeka. When local jurisdictions choose all-mail elections, they do so because it is the most accessible, cost-effective, and logistically feasible option.

HB 2503 would eliminate that choice. It strips local autonomy and silences rural voices.

If adopted, rural Kansans—who already face higher barriers to participation—would be pushed back into a system that statistically depresses their turnout. It is difficult to read the evidence and see this bill as anything other than a step backward for democratic participation in our state.

We argue that evidence, not assumptions, should drive Kansas’ election policy.

Much of the public debate around voting by mail has relied on speculation or rhetoric. But the state legislature need not speculate. 

We have Kansas data on Kansas voters in Kansas elections and the findings are clear. 

All-mail elections increase turnout. They mitigate geographic inequities. They ensure rural voters can make their voices heard on school funding, infrastructure, and public investments that directly affect their communities.

Lawmakers may disagree on many issues, but they should not ignore empirical evidence—especially when that evidence is produced by researchers in their own state examining their own elections.

As political scientists and Kansans, our conclusion is clear: HB 2503 would harm the very communities it claims to represent. If we are committed to a democratic process that includes all corners of Kansas—urban and rural alike—we must preserve municipalities’ ability to hold all-mail elections.

The Senate should reject House Bill 2503. Rural Kansans deserve better. They deserve a voting system grounded in evidence, not ideology.

Alexandra Middlewood and Brian Amos are associate professors of political science at Wichita State University. They co-founded IKE Lab in 2023 to offer data and analysis on Kansas elections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/10/1571419575847.png" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD and BRIAN AMOS Insight KansasAs political scientists who study Kansas politics, election administration, and political participation—and as the coauthors of a recent statistical analysis of Kansas’ special elections—we are compelled to speak out against Kansas House Bill 2503.The bill would repeal the state’s 1983 Mail Ballot Election Act and prohibit municipalities from conducting all-mail elections. This proposal is not merely a matter of administrative preference; it runs directly counter to what the data tell us about how Kansans, especially rural Kansans, participate in our democracy.In our research on 39 Kansas special elections conducted in 2024 and 2025, we examined turnout under two different systems: traditional in-person elections and elections conducted entirely by mail. These contests, often focused on school bond issues or local tax proposals, represent some of the most consequential—but also least visible—governance decisions affecting Kansas communities.What we found was striking.When elections were conducted entirely by mail, turnout increased dramatically. After carefully matching rural and urban voters on demographics, party registration, and turnout history, we estimated that all-mail elections increased the probability of voting by 21.7 percentage points.This is not a marginal difference. It is a structural one.Just as important, the rural-urban turnout gap nearly disappeared. In traditionally administered elections, rural voters were 3.5 points less likely to participate than urban voters. But when provided an all-mail system, the rural-urban gap shrank to less than one percentage point.In other words: all-mail elections do exactly what legislators claim to value—they promote equitable participation across all geographic regions of our state.The data is clear: rural Kansans benefit from all-mail elections. The explanation is straightforward: voting is not costless, and those costs fall disproportionately on rural residents.Rural Kansans often travel long distances to a polling location, rely on deteriorating roads and minimal public transportation, and live in jurisdictions that struggle to maintain sufficient polling places and staff. Political science research has long shown that even modest increases in the&nbsp;time or effort required to vote depress turnout. Put simply, rural Kansans face bigger hurdles when it comes to voting, and all-mail elections help remove those barriers.Kansas has long embraced local control, particularly in election administration for special elections. County clerks and school districts understand their communities’ needs far better than legislators in Topeka. When local jurisdictions choose all-mail elections, they do so because it is the most accessible, cost-effective, and logistically feasible option.HB 2503 would eliminate that choice. It strips local autonomy and silences rural voices.If adopted, rural Kansans—who already face higher barriers to participation—would be pushed back into a system that statistically depresses their turnout. It is difficult to read the evidence and see this bill as anything other than a step backward for democratic participation in our state.We argue that evidence, not assumptions, should drive Kansas’ election policy.Much of the public debate around voting by mail has relied on speculation or rhetoric. But the state legislature need not speculate. We have Kansas data on Kansas voters in Kansas elections and the findings are clear. All-mail elections increase turnout. They mitigate geographic inequities. They ensure rural voters can make their voices heard on school funding, infrastructure, and public investments that directly affect their communities.Lawmakers may disagree on many issues, but they should not ignore empirical evidence—especially when that evidence is produced by researchers in their own state examining their own elections.As political scientists and Kansans, our conclusion is clear: HB 2503 would harm the very communities it claims to represent. If we are committed to a democratic process that includes all corners of Kansas—urban and rural alike—we must preserve municipalities’ ability to hold all-mail elections.The Senate should reject House Bill 2503. Rural Kansans deserve better. They deserve a voting system grounded in evidence, not ideology.Alexandra Middlewood and Brian Amos are associate professors of political science at Wichita State University. They co-founded IKE Lab in 2023 to offer data and analysis on Kansas elections.

Insight Kansas: Kansas HB 2503 ignores what our research shows about rural voters

The Ellis County Fire Department (ECFD) is proud to announce it has been officially recognized as a Gold Helmet Department for its participation in the National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer. This honor places the ECFD as the 100th leading fire department in the nation dedicated to understanding and eliminating one of the greatest health threats in the fire service today, cancer.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to Rusty Lindsay, Company #5 Chief, whose leadership and dedication have been vital in introducing the NFR for Cancer to our department. He has initiated this effort for each fire department in Ellis County, but also in other departments in western Kansas.

Managed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the NFR for Cancer is the largest initiative focused on researching and mitigating cancer risks among firefighters. There are currently 111 departments participating in the registery, with a total of 42,729 firefighters enrolled. Kansas alone boasts 1,141 firefighters, ranking 5th in participation in the United States. The ECFD was the first volunteer fire department to achieve this recognition in Kansas.

By joining the registry, Ellis County firefighters are contributing essential data needed to develop better safeguards, improved personal protective equipment (PPE), and establish more effective prevention strategies. Participation in the NFR for Cancer is open to all U.S. firefighters, regardless of their department type (career or volunteer), status (active or retired), cancer history, or length of service. Participation is also completely voluntary.

For more information on the NFR for Cancer and how it is helping to save lives, we encourage everyone to visit: <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/firefighters/registry/index.html">https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/firefighters/registry/index.html</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684183971486.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Ellis CountyThe Ellis County Fire Department (ECFD) is proud to announce it has been officially recognized as a Gold Helmet Department for its participation in the National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer. This honor places the ECFD as the 100th leading fire department in the nation dedicated to understanding and eliminating one of the greatest health threats in the fire service today, cancer.We extend a heartfelt thank you to Rusty Lindsay, Company #5 Chief, whose leadership and dedication have been vital in introducing the NFR for Cancer to our department. He has initiated this effort for each fire department in Ellis County, but also in other departments in western Kansas.Managed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the NFR for Cancer is the largest initiative focused on researching and mitigating cancer risks among firefighters. There are currently 111 departments participating in the registery, with a total of 42,729 firefighters enrolled. Kansas alone boasts 1,141 firefighters, ranking 5th in participation in the United States. The ECFD was the first volunteer fire department to achieve this recognition in Kansas.By joining the registry, Ellis County firefighters are contributing essential data needed to develop better safeguards, improved personal protective equipment (PPE), and establish more effective prevention strategies. Participation in the NFR for Cancer is open to all U.S. firefighters, regardless of their department type (career or volunteer), status (active or retired), cancer history, or length of service. Participation is also completely voluntary.For more information on the NFR for Cancer and how it is helping to save lives, we encourage everyone to visit: <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/firefighters/registry/index.html">https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/firefighters/registry/index.html</a>.

Ellis County Fire Department recognized as gold helmet department for efforts in cancer prevention

&nbsp;Fort Hays State University Sociology Program

The Fort Hays State University Sociology Program recently partnered with Ana’s Gift to support children in Ellis County experiencing difficult situations by collecting stuffed animals. This semester, the program invited the community to participate, and friends near and far showed up in a big way, delivering and mailing more than 150 stuffed animals to Rarick Hall, each one ready to offer a meaningful source of comfort.

Ana’s Gift began when 16-year-old Ana Hertel set out with a heartfelt mission: to provide stuffed animals to children navigating challenging circumstances. Though Ana passed away shortly after starting the effort, her vision lives on through her parents, Lori and Stan Hertel, and Ana’s Gift.

Each semester, Dr. Lori Hertel is a guest speaker in Dr. Kate McGonigal’s Sociology of Death and Dying class at FHSU, sharing her story and the work of Ana’s Gift. Students are invited to participate in the drive by donating a stuffed animal for children facing frightening situations, such as riding in an ambulance, to offer comfort in their most difficult moments.

“I’m struck by how many people took part in supporting Ana’s Gift during this drive,” McGonigal said. “It’s truly a community effort with students, faculty, staff, and supporters beyond campus all coming together to carry forward Ana’s mission.”

Ana Hertel’s mission of kindness continues to ripple through classrooms, campus hallways, and the broader Ellis County community. With each animal donated, Ana’s legacy of spreading joy remains very much alive, and the FHSU Sociology Program is grateful for the continued support that makes the effort possible to comfort Ellis County children. &nbsp;

For more information on how to help Ellis County children in crisis through Ana's Gift, please contact Lori Hertel at 785-650-1344.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772126753699.jpeg" alt="FHSU Women’s Wrestling team member Josie Houk poses with her stuffed animal donation to Ana’s Gift. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Women’s Wrestling team member Josie Houk poses with her stuffed animal donation to Ana’s Gift. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Fort Hays State University Sociology ProgramThe Fort Hays State University Sociology Program recently partnered with Ana’s Gift to support children in Ellis County experiencing difficult situations by collecting stuffed animals. This semester, the program invited the community to participate, and friends near and far showed up in a big way, delivering and mailing more than 150 stuffed animals to Rarick Hall, each one ready to offer a meaningful source of comfort.Ana’s Gift began when 16-year-old Ana Hertel set out with a heartfelt mission: to provide stuffed animals to children navigating challenging circumstances. Though Ana passed away shortly after starting the effort, her vision lives on through her parents, Lori and Stan Hertel, and Ana’s Gift.Each semester, Dr. Lori Hertel is a guest speaker in Dr. Kate McGonigal’s Sociology of Death and Dying class at FHSU, sharing her story and the work of Ana’s Gift. Students are invited to participate in the drive by donating a stuffed animal for children facing frightening situations, such as riding in an ambulance, to offer comfort in their most difficult moments.“I’m struck by how many people took part in supporting Ana’s Gift during this drive,” McGonigal said. “It’s truly a community effort with students, faculty, staff, and supporters beyond campus all coming together to carry forward Ana’s mission.”Ana Hertel’s mission of kindness continues to ripple through classrooms, campus hallways, and the broader Ellis County community. With each animal donated, Ana’s legacy of spreading joy remains very much alive, and the FHSU Sociology Program is grateful for the continued support that makes the effort possible to comfort Ellis County children. &nbsp;For more information on how to help Ellis County children in crisis through Ana's Gift, please contact Lori Hertel at 785-650-1344.&nbsp;&nbsp;

FHSU Sociology Program teams up with Ana’s Gift for stuffed animal drive

Meet the Scientist Day is this Saturday, March 7 at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. 

 Come meet the scientists studying the stars above to the fossils below. 

 It will be a casual, fun way for kids and adults to chat with scientists and ask them about their research. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772139834046.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Meet the Scientist Day is this Saturday, March 7 at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. Come meet the scientists studying the stars above to the fossils below. It will be a casual, fun way for kids and adults to chat with scientists and ask them about their research. Don't miss this opportunity!

Three-day weather outlook

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission will consider updating minimum road design and construction standards for roads in platted subdivisions and developments during its Tuesday meeting.

The standards set minimum requirements for roadway and drainage improvements, and outline a process for requesting exceptions to those standards.

The update also addresses past commission discussions regarding community improvement districts.

Development plat process discussion

Commissioner Nathan Leiker will discuss the process for reviewing and approving plats in subdevelopments on future projects. Leiker is considering not approving development plats until the county's subdivision regulations are updated.

The commission will consider approving a Kansas Department of Transportation agreement to improve three bridges after the county was awarded about $4.36 million.

These include one bridge that goes over the Saline River, one on Saline River Road and one located in the 2100 block of 100th Avenue.

• The commission will hear an update on the High Plains Mental Health Crisis Intervention Center project

• The commission will consider reappointing Dylan Bryant to the county library board as his current term expires on April 30. If approved, he would serve a new four-year term

• County appraiser's extension request approved to delay the mailing of real property certified valuation notices from the March 1 deadline to on or before March 16

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684183971486.png" alt="Ellis County" />
 <figcaption>Ellis County</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThe Ellis County Commission will consider updating minimum road design and construction standards for roads in platted subdivisions and developments during its Tuesday meeting.The standards set minimum requirements for roadway and drainage improvements, and outline a process for requesting exceptions to those standards.The update also addresses past commission discussions regarding community improvement districts.Development plat process discussionCommissioner Nathan Leiker will discuss the process for reviewing and approving plats in subdevelopments on future projects. Leiker is considering not approving development plats until the county's subdivision regulations are updated.Kansas local bridge improvement program agreementThe commission will consider approving a Kansas Department of Transportation agreement to improve three bridges after the county was awarded about $4.36 million.These include one bridge that goes over the Saline River, one on Saline River Road and one located in the 2100 block of 100th Avenue.Other business• The commission will hear an update on the High Plains Mental Health Crisis Intervention Center project• The commission will consider reappointing Dylan Bryant to the county library board as his current term expires on April 30. If approved, he would serve a new four-year term• County appraiser's extension request approved to delay the mailing of real property certified valuation notices from the March 1 deadline to on or before March 16• Annual examination of revenue and expenses reports from townships• Request to send Ellis County Health Department staff to attend the 2026 Governor's Public Health ConferenceYou can view the full agenda <a href="https://www.ellisco.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03032026-733">here</a>.

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