Russell passes sales tax to help fund R9 water project

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Russell residents on Tuesday approved a 3/4-cent city sales tax that will support water infrastructure, including expenses related to the R9 Ranch water project.

The ballot measure passed with 1,196 yes votes to 651 no votes—64.75% to 35.25%.

Russell owns 18% of the R9 Ranch, which Hays first purchased in 1995 as a long-term water supply resource. Russell bought in a year later, in 1996.

The project's estimated total cost to bring water from wells in Edwards County to Hays and Russell is now $140 million.

Russell had been building reserves in its water fund to pay for the project, but it was forced to spend $1.3 million to replace its Plant B when it failed three years ago, Russell Mayor Jim Cross said at a recent forum.

Regulatory hurdles and court battles have also delayed the project and driven up its cost.

In 2015, Hays and Russell applied to change the ranch's water rights from irrigation to municipal use and submitted a water transfer application to the state in 2016.

In February 2024, the cities received a favorable ruling for the transfer.

Along the way, the Water Protection Association of Central Kansas (WaterPACK) has filed numerous objections to the project. 

Regulatory delays have continued, and in early October, Russell and Hays filed a lawsuit against the Edwards County Commission, the Edwards County Planning Commission and several other parties, claiming illegal zoning practices designed to block the project southwest of Kinsley.

Had the sales tax not passed, Randy Baker, the water utility director, said Russell residents would have faced water rate hikes of up to 50%.

Russell and Hays have jointly pursued state and federal grants and low-interest loans to fund the project.