By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The first look at the proposed 2026 budget for Hays city commissioners started Thursday with funding requests from five outside agencies.
Asking for city allocations are
• Fort Hays State University Hays Scholarship Program-$100,000 (same as 2025)
• Grow Hays-$180,000 (same as 2025)
• The Bricks-$54,000 (same as 2025)
• CARE Council Social Service Funds-$180,000 (same as 2025)
(Includes ACCESS Public Transportation, First Call for Help, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Hays Senior Center, Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center, Options, CASA of the High Plains, Cancer Council of Ellis County, Western Kansas Association for the Concerns of the Disabled)
• ACCESS Public Transportation-$107,673 (new request)
Mayor Sandy Jacobs, who has been involved with The Bricks (formerly the Downtown Hays Development Corporation) since its inception 25 years ago, issued a challenge to the board of directors.
"There's another way of funding this organization and it is within this community. The whole community needs to step up with support and sponsorships for this organization," Jacobs said.
All the other commissioners agreed with Jacobs.
"Your mission should change," said Commissioner Reese Barrick. "There's filling up businesses, there's stabilizing, and then it's on to the next big thing, new events coming up. ... Challenge yourselves."
A search for a new executive director is underway following the recent departure of Julie Ryder.
"Downtown Hays, The Bricks, is a destination in this city. It's a quality of life thing and the board support is unbelievable," Jacobs said.
She also suggested The Bricks work to incorporate more of the history of downtown Hays into its mission by working with the Ellis County Historical Society.
A new funding request came from ACCESS Public Transportation for $107,673, in addition to the $82,500 included in the CARE Council's recommended distributions.
Jerry Michaud of Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas which operates the system as an ancillary service, told commissioners that ACCESS is facing a budget shortfall of $173,000 due to funding cuts from the Kansas Department of Transportation.
"We've already raised fares," Michaud said. ACCESS is also asking Ellis County for additional funding.
During 2024, ACCESS provided more than 35,000 rides to Hays and Ellis County residents. Most of them were low income, elderly or disabled people.
Commissions offered suggestions of subsidizing trips in cooperation with rideshares and seeking grants.
Fireworks Poll Update
Nearly 2,400 people responded to the city's online opinion survey during May as to whether Hays should make changes to its fireworks use policy.
James Bell, public relations manager, reported that the majority of respondents wanted no changes.
Currently, the city's fireworks policy allows the sale and use of common fireworks from July 2 through July 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
The rural areas of Ellis County adhere to the same regulations as Hays. The city of Ellis allows discharge from July 3 to 4, and the city of Victoria only allows it on July 4.
Cemetery Budget Increases
Jeff Boyle, parks director, presented a proposal to raise fees for the first time in 20 years at the city's two cemeteries, Fort Hays Memorial Gardens Cemetery and Mount Allen Cemetery.
After checking with other communities across the state, Boyle determined all current fees, except for the columbarium niche fees, are well below average.
The following increases are proposed
"This seems like a big jump for one year," Commissioner Shaun Musil said, and suggested the increases be spread over two years.
The other commissioners disagreed with Musil and supported Boyle's recommendations. "It's been 20 years since we've raised them," said Jacobs, "and this keeps us in the middle of other cities' fees."
"The cemetery budget has been operating at a deficit for years," said Boyle, "and probably will continue to do so." He said most cities operate their cemeteries at a loss.
"It's a quality of life thing," said Toby Dougherty, city manager. "We're not trying to make a profit."
New Police/Municipal Court Phase 2
Collin Bielser, assistant city manager, presented the design/build agreement and guaranteed maximum price for Phase 2 services of the new police department and municipal court to be built in Astra Bank, 1100 Fort.
Astra Bank is constructing a new facility at 27th and Main, which is expected to be open by Sept. 1.
PWC, Hays, has presented a guaranteed maximum price of $5.9 million to renovate the existing Astra Bank, giving the police station more than twice the operational space it currently has.
"We're very pleased with it," said Don Scheibler, police chief.
Property/Liability Insurance Coverage Renewal
The city will pay a 30% increase in the premium for its 2025-2026 property/liability insurance policy renewal.
"It was the perfect storm of losses and rate adjustments," said Kim Rupp, finance director. Most of the losses came from wind and hail damage claims.
The city's insurance broker, Taylor Pfannenstiel of Insurance Planning Inc., Hays, concluded the current provider, MPR, offered the lowest cost option.
Rupp said said it is staff’s intention to actively pursue the remarketing process for the renewal in 2026-2027, including a look at hybrid coverage and self-funding.
Welcome Center Sign
A proposed low bid for a new LED marquee sign for the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2700 Vine, was presented by Melissa Dixon, executive director. Commercial Sign, Hays, is the low bidder at $44,773.
The deteriorated sign, installed in 2007, has been dark for two years. Dixon said the message software is no longer supported.