By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Two minor changes were made to the draft 2026 budget during the Hays City Commission work session Thursday.
The Rural Opportunity Zone expenditure was adjusted down due to a smaller-than-anticipated number of program applications, said Toby Dougherty, city manager.
City staff also upped the estimate on transient guest taxes by $42,000 for 2026.
"This is something we receive quarterly so it may be hard to get a good grasp on trends," Dougherty said. "But (staff) feels confident enough based off our last couple of disbursements."
The current transient guest tax in Hays, paid by those staying at motels and Airbnbs, is 8.25%.
There was no discussion of the outside agency requests, which included a new additional request from ACCESS public transportation operated by Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas. ACCESS is asking the city for another $82,500, as well as county monies, to help replace reduced state funding.
Mason Ruder, vice-mayor, noted there were no new large projects slated for 2026.
"I appreciate this budget," Ruder said. "We want to make sure we're not overextending ourselves, while still taking care of our employees and our the projects we do have."
The top project priorities next year are improvements to Oak Street between 27th and 29th Streets, and 22nd Street from Vine to Canterbury.
A revenue-neutral public hearing, followed by the budget public hearing, will be held during the Sept. 11 city commission meeting.
The mill levy for Hays remains at 25 mills for the 17th consecutive year. Total assessed valuation is up 2.5%.
Covenant Estates First Addition
Jarrod Kuckelman, assistant city manager, presented a resolution and an engineering services agreement to establish a benefit district for 32 lots in the Covenant Estates First Addition in west Hays. The developer, Covenant Land & Developing Inc., has petitioned the city for street, stormwater, water, and sanitary sewer improvements through the use of a benefit district.
The engineer’s estimate for total construction costs of the improvements is $2.9 million. Seventy percent of the costs will be special assessed, with the remaining 30% being paid by the developer. No city capital would be expended.
A $221,000 engineering agreement with Sloan Engineering and Consulting, Hays, has been prepared for the infrastructure improvements in Phase 1.
Both items will move on to the Aug. 14 meeting.
Opioid Fund Grant Request
High Plains Mental Health Center made a $49,964 request to the city for a portion of opioid settlement funds. The state distributes the opioid funds to municipalities and must be allocated for opioid and substance use disorder abatement.
City staff recommended the mental health center be granted $45,481 to purchase social detoxification treatment chairs and infusion pumps for its new Crisis Intervention Center under construction in Hays. It will serve 28 western Kansas counties.
"This (center) will take a lot of pressure off hospital emergency rooms and jails," said Craig Poe, executive director of High Plains Mental Health Center.
The grant request will be considered at the next commission meeting.
Mayor Sandy Jacobs was absent from the work session.