Dodge City Commission Summary
Week of August 4, 2026
Commission reviews 2027 budget exceeding revenue neutral rate
Police budget dominates general fund as department offers retention bonuses
Tech upgrades yield results for city administration and police
Fire department reaches full staffing, eyes equipment and facility upgrades
City approves engineering phase for wastewater facility expansion
Airport secures state grants for new hangar and fuel storage
City extends renewable natural gas sales contract through 2028
Commission approves $370,000 for Wyatt Earp Statue Gateway
Commission reviews 2027 budget exceeding revenue neutral rate
DODGE CITY, Kan. - The Dodge City Commission reviewed the proposed 2027 city budget during a study session, which includes a proposed property tax rate of 35.667 mills. This proposed rate exceeds the city's revenue neutral rate of 34.984 mills, requiring a public hearing scheduled for Sept. 7. Finance Director Nicole May noted that while most revenue projections remain flat, the budget accommodates a 2.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment and an average 3 percent merit increase for city employees to remain competitive with the labor market.
Police budget dominates general fund as department offers retention bonuses
DODGE CITY, Kan. - The Dodge City Police Department will account for $6.3 million of the city's $8.3 million general fund property tax budget in 2027. Despite the significant budget, the department is currently operating with a shortage of six to seven officers. To combat turnover and retain qualified staff, the city is successfully utilizing a $10,000 retention bonus for officers who commit to staying for four years, paid out in $2,500 annual increments.
Tech upgrades yield results for city administration and police
DODGE CITY, Kan. - According to City Manager Nick Hernandez, the recently installed Flock license plate camera system successfully aided police in apprehending a suspect and recovering a stolen vehicle within 10 minutes of it being reported. Building on this technological momentum, the city's proposed 2027 budget includes additional funding for the information technology department to explore artificial intelligence software. The AI integration aims to streamline administrative tasks, efficiently review security camera footage, and automatically flag utility billing errors.
Fire department reaches full staffing, eyes equipment and facility upgrades
DODGE CITY, Kan. - For the first time in more than five years, the Dodge City Fire Department is expected to be fully staffed with eight firefighters per shift. City Manager Nick Hernandez announced the milestone while discussing future department needs, which include a new pumper truck estimated to cost at least $1 million. The city is also in early discussions with Ford County to potentially build a combined fire and emergency medical services facility for Fire Station No. 2, which aims to improve emergency response times.
City approves engineering phase for wastewater facility expansion
DODGE CITY, Kan. - The commission unanimously approved a $388,820 agreement with Olsson to conduct a discovery phase for expanding the effluent irrigation system at the South Wastewater Recycling Facility. The expansion is largely driven by the incoming Hilmar Cheese plant, which will add approximately 1.5 million gallons of effluent per day to the plant. The design-build team will survey locations, map new irrigation lines, and model the proposed system before finalizing construction plans.
Airport secures state grants for new hangar and fuel storage
DODGE CITY, Kan. - The Dodge City Regional Airport will receive critical infrastructure upgrades after the commission unanimously accepted two grants from the Kansas Department of Transportation's Division of Aviation. The grants will provide a 50 percent match for the construction of a new 120-by-120-foot hangar to alleviate current capacity issues for corporate and medical aircraft. Additionally, the funding will help replace 30-year-old underground fuel storage tanks with safer, above-ground double-wall tanks for jet fuel and aviation gas.
City extends renewable natural gas sales contract through 2028
DODGE CITY, Kan. - The commission unanimously approved a 28-month contract extension with STX Commodities for the sale of the city's industrial renewable natural gas. The new agreement guarantees a fixed rate of $15.50 per million British thermal units for the first 100,000 MMBTU produced annually, with the city keeping 80 percent of the profits on any sales above that volume. City Engineer Tanner Rutschman noted the hybrid structure protects the city in a softer market while allowing for upside profit if renewable energy prices increase.
Commission approves $370,000 for Wyatt Earp Statue Gateway
DODGE CITY, Kan. - Continuing downtown revitalization efforts, the commission unanimously approved a $370,756 budget estimate from Building Solutions to construct the Wyatt Earp Statue Gateway. Funded through STAR bonds, the steel archway will mirror the existing Boot Hill gateway on the west end of downtown. Construction is expected to begin in September, and efforts are underway to restore the original bronze medallions for the new structure.
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