Abilene – Week of July 31, 2025

Abilene Faces “How Did We Get Here?” Moment Over Finances

Abilene Proposes Deep Cuts to Personnel, Programs in 2026 Budget

Abilene Commission Split on Street Sweeper Lease

County to Deny Riley County’s Request for Childcare Licensing Funds

County, Abilene Officials Look to Streamline Business Tax Breaks

Abilene Faces “How Did We Get Here?” Moment Over Finances

ABILENE - A review of Abilene’s 2024 audit and a preview of the 2026 budget revealed a grim financial picture, prompting a “how did we get here” analysis from Interim City Manager Jon Quinday. The 2024 audit uncovered that the Sales Tax Street Fund was overspent by more than $$1.7$ million, a significant budget violation. The manager also highlighted a history of unbudgeted fund transfers, including nearly $1 million in 2024, and a pattern of not budgeting based on historical spending, which has depleted reserve funds. The city’s general-fund balance dropped from $2.3 million in 2019 to $1.1 million by the end of 2024, forcing officials to propose deep cuts for the upcoming budget year.

Abilene Proposes Deep Cuts to Personnel, Programs in 2026 Budget

ABILENE - In response to significant financial challenges, Interim City Manager Jon Quinday presented a 2026 budget proposal that includes eliminating one police officer and one public-works position to save money. The proposed austerity measures also include cutting all funding for the Municipal Band and the Sister City program, reducing the sidewalk-replacement program by half, and cutting funds for demolitions, building maintenance, and curb-and-gutter repairs. The budget as proposed contains no cost-of-living or merit increases for city employees and carries over only $290,000 into the cash reserve, far short of the usual $1 million.

Abilene Commission Split on Street Sweeper Lease

ABILENE - The Abilene City Commission approved a motion authorizing the mayor to sign lease-purchase documents for a new street sweeper in a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner John Kollhoff voting against the measure. The lease agreement is with First Bank Kansas, an entity the mayor noted he is not affiliated with. The lease itself had been previously approved by the commission on June 9, but the authorization for the signature was required to be memorialized in the minutes.

County to Deny Riley County’s Request for Childcare Licensing Funds

DICKINSON COUNTY - Dickinson County Commissioners signaled their intent to deny a funding request from Riley County, which is seeking money to cover a shortfall for providing state-mandated childcare-licensing services in Dickinson and other area counties. Riley County took over the service after Dickinson County found it could no longer afford to provide it, but now reports a $38,432 shortfall. Dickinson County officials argued that licensing is a state responsibility and that Riley County should seek adequate funding from the state legislature rather than from neighboring counties. Administrators from Geary and Pottawatomie counties reportedly share this opinion.

County, Abilene Officials Look to Streamline Business Tax Breaks

DICKINSON COUNTY - In a push to make the region more business-friendly, officials from Dickinson County, the City of Abilene, and the Dickinson County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) are collaborating to streamline the application process for tax abatements. The goal is to create a simpler, more unified process with consistent documents available across all three entities’ websites. The group is also reviewing the county’s tax-abatement policy itself, which was last updated by a resolution in 1998.

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Contact: greg@citizenjournal.us