Abilene local news summary

Abilene Faces “Structural Deficit,” Forcing Deep Budget Cuts; Takes Measures to Address

Competing Drainage Projects Expose Strain on Stormwater Fund

Abilene Stops Paying Engineering Firm for Bi-Weekly Meetings to Cut Costs

County to Hire Legal Experts to Draft Alternative Energy Zoning Regulations

Heavy Truck Owners Face Massive Tax Hikes After County Ends COVID-Era Caps

1. Abilene Faces “Structural Deficit,” Forcing Deep Budget Cuts; Takes Several Measures to Address

ABILENE - Interim City Manager Jon Quinday delivered a stark financial assessment, stating the city faces a “persistent imbalance between limited revenue growth and rising operating cost”. This “structural deficit” has depleted city reserves, limiting flexibility for emergencies and long-term projects. Quinday cited several contributing factors, including unbudgeted fund transfers in 2024, rising insurance premiums, and a lack of real-time budget visibility for department heads. The proposed 2026 budget, which includes an increased mill levy, aims to stabilize finances but will require “difficult decisions” impacting city services and eliminating non-contractual funding for outside organizations.

A significant infrastructure project for Buckeye Avenue (CCLIP) was halted after extensive debate over its cost and necessity. Commissioners questioned the difference between the project’s estimated $1.368 million cost and the $1.9 million in temporary notes borrowed for it. Commissioner Kollhoff voiced major concerns, arguing that before cutting community programs or city staff, the commission should first “cut $1.1 million that’s not even necessary for this project”. The debate centered on reducing the project’s scope by removing non-essential items like sidewalks and some storm sewer work to stay closer to the KDOT grant match of $880,000. The commission voted unanimously to table the engineering agreement until its August 25th meeting to get clarification from KDOT on what project changes are allowable while keeping the grant funding.

As a direct result of the city’s budget crisis, long-standing cultural programs are on the chopping block. During public comment, citizens learned that the city is considering defunding the Abilene City Band and the Abilene-Omitama, Japan Sister City program, both of which currently receive $10,000 annually. Speakers passionately advocated for both programs, highlighting the City Band’s 144-year history and its role in Ike’s inaugural parades, and the Sister City program’s connection to President Eisenhower’s “People to People” initiative. While no formal vote was taken, the potential cuts illustrate the difficult choices facing the commission as it works to balance the budget.

2. Competing Drainage Projects Expose Strain on Stormwater Fund

ABILENE - The commission’s discussion of two major infrastructure projects revealed the financial strain on the city’s dedicated Stormwater Fund. A proposed drainage improvement project on Northeast 15th Street, estimated to cost up to $600,000, would consume nearly the entire fund balance of $636,000. This conflicts with the debated Buckeye Avenue (CCLIP) project, which also requires storm sewer replacements that would be paid from the same fund. The commission tabled the NE 15th Street project, acknowledging they must first decide on the scope and funding sources for the Buckeye project before committing the limited stormwater funds elsewhere.

3. Abilene Stops Paying Engineering Firm for Bi-Weekly Meetings to Cut Costs

ABILENE - In a move to control spending, the city has ended its standard practice of paying for bi-weekly meetings with Olsson Engineering. The issue came to light during a review of the city’s bills, which included a charge of $756 for the meetings. City Manager Quinday confirmed that while the meetings have been a past practice, the city will no longer hold them on a recurring basis and will instead call the engineering firm on an as-needed basis to avoid the expense.

4. County to Hire Legal Experts to Draft Alternative Energy Zoning Regulations

DICKINSON COUNTY - Dickinson County is moving to regulate future development of alternative energy projects by hiring the law firm Stinson LLP to help draft new zoning regulations. Citing the potential for hydrogen extraction, solar farms, battery storage facilities, and data centers, commissioners emphasized the need to be prepared and protect the county’s interests. The commission approved a motion to engage the firm for up to $24,000 to develop legally sound regulations, noting that without them, the county cannot currently accept applications for such projects. This proactive measure is intended to ensure the county is not caught unprepared by new and complex industries.

5. Heavy Truck Owners Face Massive Tax Hikes After County Ends COVID-Era Caps

DICKINSON COUNTY - The Dickinson County Appraiser’s Office explained that local owners of heavy trucks (24,000 lbs or more) are seeing dramatic increases in their property taxes this year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the county implemented 10-20% caps on value increases for these vehicles to help taxpayers weather market volatility. However, with prices not stabilizing, the office has removed the caps to comply with state statutes that require valuing property at fair market value. The change, combined with correcting previously undervalued vehicles, is resulting in significant tax shocks; one example cited showed a truck’s tax bill jumping from $247 last year to approximately $1,300 this year.

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