Hays City Commission Summary
Week of July 7, 2026
City previews 2027 budget focused on employee retention
Hays City Commission plans to exceed revenue neutral rate amid valuation drops
Sewer project expands after bids come in $100K under budget
Solid waste rate increases planned for 2027
Airport apron expansion budgeted for larger aircraft
Major street and park projects slated for 2027
City looks to long-term funding for sports complex turf
Transient guest tax outperforms projections
City previews 2027 budget focused on employee retention
HAYS, Kan. — Deputy City Manager Collin Bielser presented the draft 2027 city budget, highlighting a straightforward approach designed to maintain city services and support staff. The general fund's operating expenditures are projected to rise by about $500,000. Bielser noted that 76 percent of this increase will fund a 2 percent step increase, a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment and an increase in the city's health insurance contribution from $11,000 to $12,500 per employee to help offset rising premium costs.
Hays City Commission plans to exceed revenue neutral rate amid valuation drops
HAYS, Kan. — The proposed 2027 budget will require the city to exceed the state-mandated revenue neutral rate, despite only requesting $25,810 more in property tax revenue than in 2026. Officials expressed frustration with the state calculation, noting the city's assessed valuation dropped partly due to a new state law exempting boats and RVs from property taxes. The city also lost more than $3 million in assessed valuation from several commercial properties transitioning to tax-exempt status.
Sewer project expands after bids come in $100K under budget
HAYS, Kan. — The city will significantly expand its 2026 Sanitary Sewer Point Repairs and Lining Project after construction bids came in well below the $350,000 budget. Director of Water Resources Jeff Crispin reported that the lowest apparent bidder, Mayer Specialty Services of Goddard, submitted a bid of $254,640. The nearly $100,000 in savings allowed the city to authorize 35 additional patch repairs. The final project will include 1,943 linear feet of sewer lining and 55 internal patches.
Solid waste rate increases planned for 2027
HAYS, Kan. — Residents can expect to see higher sanitation rates in the coming years, as city officials signaled plans to introduce a multi-year rate increase structure for the solid waste fund later this summer. The fund's revenue has remained essentially flat since rates were last adjusted in 2019. The proposed 2027 budget projects an additional $120,000 in solid waste revenue to keep up with inflation and operational costs.
Airport apron expansion budgeted for larger aircraft
HAYS, Kan. — The city is preparing for larger commercial flights, programming $250,000 in the 2027 budget for a North Apron expansion project at the Hays Regional Airport. SkyWest Airlines has indicated plans to deploy larger aircraft to the region in the future. While the planes will cap at the same passenger capacity by shifting to a roomier cabin configuration, the new aircraft models are about 20 feet longer and require larger turning radii. The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to cover 90 percent of the expansion costs.
Major street and park projects slated for 2027
HAYS, Kan. — The city's five-year capital improvement plan outlines several large-scale infrastructure and quality-of-life investments for 2027. Highlights include $1.1 million for general street maintenance and $2.6 million for the reconstruction of 22nd Street from Vine to Canterbury. The city has also earmarked $425,000 to replace 20-year-old playground equipment at Pratt-Optimist and East Frontier parks, as well as fund roof and shade structure repairs at the Hays Aquatic Park.
City looks to long-term funding for sports complex turf
HAYS, Kan. — While the artificial turf at the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex is expected to last at least five more years, city officials are beginning to plan for its eventual replacement. Because the initial installation was largely funded by the Hays Recreation Commission and Ellis County sales tax, the city plans to allocate future funds into a commission capital reserve to handle the massive replacement cost. Commissioners also discussed a renewed push to secure private sponsorships for the facility's fields.
Transient guest tax outperforms projections
HAYS, Kan. — The local hotel industry continues to perform well, with the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau reporting stronger-than-expected transient guest tax revenues. Occupancy rates for early 2025 were up 5 percent compared to the previous year, prompting optimistic revenue projections for the 2026 and 2027 budgets. Officials noted they will monitor summer gas prices to see if fuel costs negatively impact late-season travel to the city.
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