Council approves STAR Bond project plan

Cosmosphere and Memorial Hall slated for upgrades

Bonds backed by sales tax increment, not property taxes

State legislation may impact bond timeline

Council addresses confusion over sales tax measures

Utility billing assistance program launched

Woodie Seat Freeway traffic signals to activate early

Parking safety concerns raised at Salt City Brewery

City prepares to sell impound lot

Commission votes against seeking authority for sales tax election

Legislative deadline forces immediate decision

Commission Chair Ron Hirst casts lone dissenting vote on tax exploration motion

Proposal sought to balance infrastructure needs with property tax relief

Commissioner questions economic viability of tax shift amid inflation

Discussion turns to potential food tax exemption

Validity of county survey results questioned

Residents voice concerns over existing tax burden

Commissioners clarify distinction between city and county tax proposals

Board urges civic engagement for vacant local offices

Council approves STAR Bond project plan

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council unanimously approved an ordinance Tuesday, Jan. 20, adopting the project plan for the Hutchinson Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bond district. This vote marks the second major phase in a three-step legal process required by the state, following the district's creation in 2024. The approval allows city staff to finalize development agreements and engage underwriters to prepare for bond issuance, which will require a final vote from the council in the coming months.

Cosmosphere and Memorial Hall slated for upgrades

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The newly approved STAR Bond project plan outlines improvements for three local landmarks: the Cosmosphere, Memorial Hall and the commercial portion of the Landmark Apartments building at Fifth and Main. The plan also includes a $1 million allocation requested by Lt. Gov. David Toland to help Hutchinson further embrace its identity around space tourism. City officials noted that the project is designed to boost tourism and generate revenue through increased visitation.

Bonds backed by sales tax increment, not property taxes

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — During a public hearing regarding the STAR Bond financing, bond counsel from Gilmore & Bell clarified that the bonds are not backed by property taxes or the city's general fund. Instead, they are financed through "incremental" sales tax revenue—the difference between current tax revenue and the increased revenue generated by the new developments. If the projects fail to generate the projected sales tax, the risk falls on the bondholders rather than local taxpayers.

State legislation may impact bond timeline

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Bond counsel advised the council that the state's STAR Bond Act is set to expire on June 30, 2026. While the legislature may renew the act, if it is not renewed, the city would likely need to sell the bonds before the end of June to secure the financing. The legal team indicated they are monitoring activities in Topeka closely to ensure the project stays on track regardless of legislative changes.

Council addresses confusion over sales tax measures

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Mayor Scott Meggers and Vice Mayor Greg Fast addressed public confusion regarding the distinction between the STAR Bond project and an upcoming March 3 ballot measure regarding a sales tax for stormwater utility fees. Officials emphasized that the STAR Bond project utilizes existing state sales tax incentives and does not impose a new tax on residents, whereas the separate March ballot question asks voters to replace a stormwater utility fee with a sales tax increase.

Utility billing assistance program launched

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — City Manager Enrico Villegas announced that the city's new utility billing assistance program is now active and available to residents. The program is designed to help qualifying residents manage water and wastewater costs. This launch comes amid broader council discussions regarding the cost of water infrastructure and the impact of utility rates on the community.

Woodie Seat Freeway traffic signals to activate early

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — City officials reported that the traffic signal project at Woodie Seat Freeway and Avenue A is running ahead of schedule. The signals for east-west bound traffic are expected to be activated by Monday, a week earlier than anticipated. This activation is part of ongoing infrastructure improvements aimed at improving traffic flow in the area.

Parking safety concerns raised at Salt City Brewery

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — During the meeting, safety concerns were raised regarding parking arrangements in front of Salt City Brewing Co. City staff acknowledged reports that large trucks parking directly in front of the entrance often force vehicles to swerve into oncoming lanes to see around them. Staff agreed to investigate the issue and suggested potential signage to direct patrons to the available parking lot in the rear of the building to improve visibility and safety.

City prepares to sell impound lot

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The city is moving forward with plans to sell the city impound lot at 935 E. 4th Ave. In a discussion with City Attorney Paul Brown, it was noted that the property will be placed on the market before the attorney's upcoming departure, fulfilling a long-discussed council goal to offload the property.

Commission votes against seeking authority for sales tax election

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission voted 3-1 to reject a proposal that would have asked the Kansas Legislature for authorization to hold a countywide sales tax election. The commission convened a special session to meet a state deadline for legislative requests, but by passing a motion "not to do anything at this time," the board effectively ended the possibility of placing a sales tax question on the ballot for voters in 2026.

Legislative deadline forces immediate decision

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — County Administrator Randy Partington advised the board that due to Kansas statutes, Reno County lacks the home rule authority to initiate a new sales tax without state legislative consent. The deadline to have a local legislator request the drafting of a bill is Monday, and the commission's decision to decline the request means the issue cannot be revisited until the 2027 legislative session at the earliest.

Commission Chair Ron Hirst casts lone dissenting vote on tax exploration motion

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Commission Chair Ron Hirst provided the only vote in favor of continuing the sales tax discussion, arguing that the revenue could provide property tax relief for residents. Hirst emphasized that moving forward would not have enacted a tax immediately but rather would have allowed the county to ask the state for permission to let citizens vote on the matter later this year; however, Commissioners Don Bogner, Randy Parks, and Richard Winger voted to end the inquiry.

Proposal sought to balance infrastructure needs with property tax relief

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — County Administrator Randy Partington presented commissioners with three options for a potential sales tax based on a recent survey of registered voters. The discussed legislation would have allowed the county to submit a question to voters regarding a sales tax — ranging from 0.25 percent to 1 percent — specifically funded for ad valorem property tax reduction, economic development and public infrastructure, with Partington noting that a mixed-use tax was the top preference in the county's survey.

Commissioner questions economic viability of tax shift amid inflation

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A commissioner expressed skepticism that a sales tax would result in meaningful savings for property owners due to rising economic pressures. The commissioner argued that even if property taxes were lowered using sales tax revenue, inflation and rising insurance costs — estimated at 10 percent to 12 percent — would likely absorb those savings, resulting in a net tax increase for residents rather than a reduction.

Discussion turns to potential food tax exemption

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A commissioner and County Administrator Randy Partington discussed the possibility of asking the Legislature to allow the county to exempt food from any new sales tax. While Partington noted there is currently no state statute granting counties the authority to exempt groceries specifically, the commissioner suggested including the request in the legislative draft to lessen the impact on lower-income residents while still capturing revenue from other retail sources.

Validity of county survey results questioned

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The commission debated the weight of a recent survey regarding the sales tax, which showed nearly 70 percent support for a half-cent tax among registered voters. However, residents and commissioners noted that only about 400 people responded to the survey, and speakers argued this sample size was too small to accurately represent the population, suggesting the board would meet significant resistance if they proceeded to a general election.

Residents voice concerns over existing tax burden

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Several residents used the public comment period to oppose any potential tax increase, citing Reno County's already high tax rates. One resident asserted that the current sales tax is higher than 92 percent of counties in the country and argued that the county should focus on reducing the overall tax burden to spur economic activity rather than shifting taxes from property to sales.

Commissioners clarify distinction between city and county tax proposals

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — During public discussion, confusion regarding a separate tax initiative by the city of Hutchinson was addressed. A resident clarified that the city of Hutchinson has an upcoming vote in March for a 0.75 percent sales tax increase, which is unrelated to the county's proposal. Commissioners emphasized that they have no jurisdiction over city spending or the city's separate ballot initiatives.

Board urges civic engagement for vacant local offices

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — In response to public comments regarding government transparency and spending, commissioners encouraged citizens to take a more active role in local governance. A commissioner noted that many township and board positions often go unfilled or are decided by appointment because no one runs for office, urging residents to participate in elections and board meetings to effect the changes they wish to see.

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