By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
A short work session for Hays city commissioners Thursday evening included an agreement to continue work on an ordinance establishing another Rural Housing District (RHID) in Hays at Fourth and Fort Streets.
"This is the finish line of the application," Hays Finance Director Kim Rupp told the commission.
He noted that the local developer has undergone a name change during the process.
"It is [now] Michael D. Graham Rentals. That is the name change from what we have been presenting as Turnkey Properties, but it's strictly administrative in purpose, and has no bearing on the public hearing for next week.
"It's still the same property, same project. Just a change in name."
The project involves proposed construction of four structures with a total of 36 apartments on the property directly west of the former Washington Grade School in downtown Hays.
The developer seeks reimbursement of certain RHID-eligible project costs from RHID revenues on a pay-as-you-go basis for 25 years.
Total project cost is estimated to be $3.46 million with $414,550 of eligible for RHID reimbursement.
"They're estimating over that 25-year period the incremental property tax revenues on the site will generate approximately $622,500," Rupp explained. "So it's proposed to exceed what would be needed, so it's possible it (the RHID) wouldn't need the full 25 years."
Under Hays' RHID policy, the developer advances all costs of the project and is reimbursed for eligible costs from the RHID revenues. The city will not issue general obligation or special obligation bonds for the project.
Commissioners also briefly discussed the draft 2023 budget.
City Manager Toby Dougherty said there were no changes from the commission's first look at the budget earlier this month.
They will talk specifically about the funding requests from outside agencies at the August 4 meeting. The total amount requested by the groups - $556,116 - is nearly $72,000 more than what was allocated last year.