Abilene local news summary

Commission Tables 2026 Budget Vote Amid Debate Over Staff Cuts

City Approves Tax Rate Exceeding Revenue Neutral Level in Split Vote

Police Chief Warns Against Proposed Staff Reductions

Steep Water Rate Hikes Loom as Utility Faces Major Deficit

Commission Reviews $219,000 Bid for Urgent Wastewater Plant Repairs

City to Re-examine Golf Cart and UTV Ordinance

County Explores Fleet Management Program to Save Taxpayer Dollars

Free Landfill Cleanup Week Scheduled for End of September

Commission Tables 2026 Budget Vote Amid Debate Over Staff Cuts

ABILENE, Kan. - In a contentious session, the Abilene City Commission voted 4-1 to table the adoption of the 2026 city budget until its September 22nd meeting. The delay was requested by Commissioner Kollhoff, who argued for more time to find savings after proposing significant cuts, including the elimination of three vacant city positions—a deputy police chief, a patrol officer, and a public works maintenance manager—as well as reducing commissioner pay to $1 per year. The motion to table gives the commission and city staff two more weeks to explore alternatives to the proposed property tax increase.

City Approves Tax Rate Exceeding Revenue Neutral Level in Split Vote

ABILENE, Kan. - By a narrow 3-2 vote, the City Commission passed a resolution to exceed the revenue neutral rate, paving the way for a potential property tax increase. The proposed 2026 budget includes a mill levy of 47.537, an increase of 1.889 mills over the current rate. For a home valued at $139,000, this would result in an estimated annual tax increase of $30. Interim City Manager Jon Quinday argued the increase is necessary to rebuild the city’s depleted reserve funds and restore long-term fiscal stability after two years of revenue-neutral budgets. Commissioners Miller and Kollhoff voted against the measure.

Police Chief Warns Against Proposed Staff Reductions

ABILENE, Kan. - Newly sworn-in Police Chief Jason Wilkins made a direct appeal to the commission, urging them not to approve a proposal that would cut his department’s staffing by 20%. The proposed elimination of a vacant deputy chief and a patrol officer position, he argued, would take staffing back to late-1990s levels and compromise public safety. "There is a criminal element that exists in Abilene that most everybody in this room is not aware of," Wilkins stated, warning that cutting police services would jeopardize the department's ability to shield the community from it.

Steep Water Rate Hikes Loom as Utility Faces Major Deficit

ABILENE, Kan. - City officials revealed that Abilene’s water utility is operating at a significant loss, setting the stage for substantial rate increases. According to a staff report, it costs the city $5.74 to produce 1,000 gallons of water, while residential and commercial customers are only charged $4.47. This has led to a projected shortfall of $845,000 for the current year, which was only offset by deferring critical capital projects. Staff presented several rate-adjustment scenarios to address the structural deficit, with a decision expected in the coming months.

Commission Reviews $219,000 Bid for Urgent Wastewater Plant Repairs

ABILENE, Kan. - The commission is moving forward with critical structural repairs at the city’s wastewater treatment plant. Staff presented a single bid of $219,330 from NF Construction of Marion to mitigate significant building settlement and cracking issues. The project includes installing helical piles to stabilize the building’s foundation, concrete reinforcement, and crack repair. Public Works Director Brad Anderson stressed the urgency of the work, stating, "It's a problem that we can't push down the road and wait and see what happens." A tour for commissioners to view the damage is being scheduled before a final vote.

City to Re-examine Golf Cart and UTV Ordinance

ABILENE, Kan. - Following feedback from residents, the city will review its ordinance regulating golf carts and other special-purpose vehicles. The current code requires vehicles to have a minimum width of 48 inches to be permitted for street use, a rule that has prevented some newer "luxury golf cart" models from being approved, even if they meet all other safety requirements. The commission directed Police Chief Wilkins to research how other communities handle the issue and to prepare options for a future study session to potentially amend the ordinance.

County Explores Fleet Management Program to Save Taxpayer Dollars

DICKINSON COUNTY - Dickinson County is considering a significant change to how it manages its vehicle fleet, a move that could save taxpayers an estimated $679,000 over the next 10 years. The Finance Director reported that the county has been in discussions with Enterprise Fleet Management to potentially overhaul its system of purchasing, maintaining, and replacing vehicles. Initial numbers from Enterprise are promising, and county officials recently met with the City of Salina, which has used the program successfully since 2019. Departments including the Sheriff's Office, EMS, and Road and Bridge are currently providing detailed information on their vehicle needs to build a comprehensive analysis. A formal proposal will be presented to the commission if the plan proves fiscally sound.

Free Landfill Cleanup Week Scheduled for End of September

DICKINSON COUNTY - Dickinson County has announced its annual free cleanup week, scheduled for September 29th through October 3rd. During this period, residents can bring a variety of items to the county landfill at 2363 Jeep Road at no charge. Accepted materials include household trash, metal, limbs and grass, household hazardous waste, electronic waste, and tires. The landfill will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. for the event. Officials noted that construction and demolition (C&D) materials will not be accepted, as the landfill is not permitted for that type of waste.

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