By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Hays city commissioners will conduct the public hearing Thursday night for the 2022 proposed budget, followed by the budget adoption.
The mill levy remains at 25 while total valuation is up four percent. The budget includes a programmed step and COLA (Cost Of Living Adjustment) for all city employees.
Due to a change in state law for better transparency in governmental budgets, the commission is first required to conduct a revenue neutral rate public hearing.
The revenue neutral rate for tax year 2021 for the city of Hays was calculated as 24.322 mills by the Ellis County Clerk. Because of the valuation increase, budget year 2022 requires the levy of a property tax rate (25.000 mills), exceeding the revenue neutral rate.
Other agenda items include:
* Award of bid for the Parks Department parking lot
* Adoption of the 2021 Uniform Public Office Code and Standard Traffic Ordinance for Kansas cities
* Rezoning request of 210 W. 13th Street, site of the former St. Joseph Catholic Parish Hall, from Public Institutional to Residential Multi-Family District
* Hear an update of the North Vine Street Improvement Project which is in its final phase
The Sept. 9 agenda is available here. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.
At 6:15 p.m. Mayor Sandy Jacobs will read a proclamation regarding the Hays Larks.