By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Hays city commissioners voted 3-1 Thursday to approve the 2027 budget, with David Vilaysing dissenting. The mill levy will decrease slightly for the second-consecutive year.
Shaun Musil was absent from the meeting.
The 2027 mill levy will be 24.153 mills, down from 24.381 mills in 2026. It's the 18th-consecutive year the city mill levy has been at 25 mills or less.
The mill levy exceeds the revenue-neutral rate. Vilaysing said he thought the city could stay revenue neutral and that was the reason for his no vote.
"I appreciate that the budget is conservative, but I just think there are some more areas where we could cut it down a little bit," Vilaysing said
Sandy Jacobs said she was impressed with staff and department heads by their work.
"They're very very careful about what they're requesting," she said. "In the nine years I've been here, I think this is the most stellar budget I've seen."
Vice Mayor Alaina Cunningham also commended the staff, including Collin Bielser, deputy city manager.
"We asked for a very conservative budget, and that is what was provided," Cunningham said.
There were no comments from the audience during public hearings for the revenue-neutral rate or the budget.
Bielser said during his presentation the biggest portion of the levied funds in the budget is for employee benefits.
The benefits include a 2% programmed STEP and a 2% COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) increase for all employees. The health insurance contribution was also increased.
"The 2027 budget is a 'maintain operations' budget with a focus on taking care of our employees," Bielser said.
The city's 6.50% portion of the total 9.25% local sales tax primarily funds the public services financed by the general fund, such as police, fire and parks.
Bieler said the 2026 sales tax revenue is projected to be up 4% over 2025 and is trending at 6% higher.
"That's a good sign," he said.
The 2027 sales tax revenue is projected to increase 2% over 2026.
Assessed valuation for Hays is up 1%.
In other business, commissioners
ā¢ Unanimously accepted the Hess Second Addition final plat, a replat of a portion of the Hess First Addition. The property, located at the northwest corner of the Interstate 70, exit 157 interchange, is owned by Hess Land LLC, Hays.
Jesse Rohr, public works director, said the city has an "understanding that a partial development may be in the works, and this is the next step."
ā¢ Approved Mayor Mason Rupp's recommendations of Elinda Mages, Avid Hotel, and Amanda Rupp, Ellis County Historical Society, to be appointed to the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Committee.
You can watch the entire Sept. 10, 2026, Hays City Commission meeting below, courtesy of Nex-Tech.