By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Hays city commissioners approved the city's 2025 budget Thursday. For the 16th consecutive year, the mill levy remains at 25 mills.
Collin Bielser, deputy city manager, reviewed the highlights prior to public hearings to exceed the revenue-neutral rate and for the budget.
Total assessed valuation of the city is up 4.2%.
The budget includes 2% step and 3% cost of living increases for all city employees.
Spending in the general fund, which is financed primarily through the local sales tax, is expected to be about $177,500 below 2024 levels.
This year's sales tax revenues have underperformed, Bielser said, and are projected to end 1.4% below budget. However, a modest 2% increase over 2024 projections is estimated.
Two audience members, both Hays retirees, asked that the revenue- neutral rate not be exceeded.
City Manager Toby Dougherty said that's impractical.
"We have cost increases we have to deal with. ... The revenue-neutral rate is a fallacy. It may sound good year-to-year, but it's not sustainable long term," Dougherty said.
"In 1956, we funded a police department for $65,000. If you were to take the revenue-neutral philosophy, we would still be spending $65,000 to fund the Hays Police Department. We can't do that. ... It doesn't make sense unless you're in an environment where costs do not increase."
The Ellis County valuation went up about 5% this year.
A third public hearing was conducted to establish a Reinvestment Housing Incentive District for The Grove development north of HaysMed.
The developer, Grow Hays, has asked the city to finance and construct infrastructure related to the project.
The city would use incentive district revenues to offset its estimated $8.2 million costs. The incentive district would generate about $8.452 million during its maximum 25-year term.
The city of Hays has been awarded a technical assistance grant from the Federal Emergency Management Association, increasing its likelihood of receiving federal financial assistance for the R9 long-term water project for Hays and Russell.
Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding with FEMA.
John Braun, R9 project manager, said the technical assistance grant will help the city prepare its Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities grant application.
Hays was the only city in Kansas to receive the FEMA technical grant.
The commission accepted three changes to the 2024 Uniform Public Offense Code and Standard Traffic Ordinance for Kansas cities presented by Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler.
Changes in state statute prompted all three changes.
Changes to the Uniform Public Offense Code:
Disorderly Conduct ā The portion that made engaging in noisy conduct tending reasonably to arouse alarm, anger or resentment in others a violation of the law has been removed. The Kansas Supreme Court recently ruled this portion of the section was unconstitutional.
Possession of Marijuana, Drug Paraphernalia, Controlled Substances ā Amended to give people immunity from prosecution for simple possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia when rendering aid to an overdose victim.
Changes to the Standard Traffic Ordinance:
Failure to Comply with Traffic Citation ā Changes are designed to reduce suspensions of driving privileges and allow people to have a restricted license. The new law also limits license reinstatement surcharge to a single fee of $100 and increases the number of non-driving violations for which a license may be suspended or restricted.
The governing body was reorganized at the beginning of the meeting, and Shaun Musil stepped down as mayor.
Jacobs was elected mayor and Mason Ruder will serve as vice-mayor.
A donation check to the city for $13,000 from Golden Plains Credit Union was presented by Ruth Ruder.
Jacobs said the donation would likely be used to install a pedestrian crosswalk on 33rd Street at the ARC Park.