Hays City Commission will review 2027 outside agency funding, police station expenses
Local nonprofits will present annual budget needs as the downtown police facility nears 50% completion
HAYS — The Hays City Commission tonight will review multiple 2027 funding requests from local organizations and consider allocating up to $850,000 to furnish the city's future police station.
During the work session, commissioners will hear presentations from five outside agencies seeking municipal tax support, including Fort Hays State University, Grow Hays and the Downtown Hays Development Corporation.
A notable change to this year's budget process involves Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas and ACCESS Public Transportation, which historically received funding through the CARE Council. Facing severe budget constraints that will force the suspension of Sunday bus rides starting July 1, ACCESS will request $190,531 directly from the city to maintain daily operations. Because of the separate funding track, the CARE Council has decreased its own annual request to $92,000.
City leaders will also discuss the final outfitting for the new Hays Police Department and municipal court facility, located in the former Astra Bank building at 11th and Fort streets. Deputy City Manager Collin Bielser and Police Chief Don Scheibler will present the $850,000 request for fixtures, furnishings and equipment, which will include fiber optic networks, security systems, training materials and standard office furniture.
The renovation project, designed to more than double the department's operational space, is roughly 50% complete and on track for a late fall opening. City staff anticipate that the overall construction and outfitting expenses will remain under the project's $8.9 million budget, which is financed through previously issued general obligation bonds.
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