McPherson – Week of July 15, 2025

City Proposes Property Tax Rate Increase, Cites Inflation

Police Department Receives Federally Funded Command Trailer, Plans for New Cameras

County Building Renovation 55 % Complete, Ahead of Schedule

County Tables Airport Fuel-Farm Project Amid Cost Questions

Sheriff’s Office to Add New K-9 Using Seized Funds

City Proposes Property Tax Rate Increase, Cites Inflation

McPHERSON - The McPherson City Commission has signaled its intent to adopt a budget for the upcoming year that will require a property-tax rate higher than the “revenue-neutral rate.” During the July 15 meeting, Finance Director Richard Miller presented Resolution 25-07, which formally states the city’s plan to exceed the rate of 52.051 mills calculated by the county clerk. The proposed city mill levy is 53.238, the same rate as the previous year. A commissioner noted that while the levy itself isn’t increasing, rising property valuations mean the city will collect more tax dollars than last year, which is necessary to keep pace with inflation on materials and supplies. A public hearing on the matter is scheduled for August 26, 2025, at 9:00 AM at the Municipal Center.

Police Department Receives Federally Funded Command Trailer, Plans for New Cameras

McPHERSON - The McPherson Police Department has acquired a new mobile command trailer, delivered on July 14, 2025. Police Chief Mikel Golden told commissioners the trailer—built by Jet Stream Systems of Augusta—and a forthcoming city-wide camera system are being funded entirely through a $275,000 federal appropriation secured by Senator Jerry Moran’s office, so there is no cost to local taxpayers. Of the total, $100,000 paid for the trailer and $175,000 is earmarked for high-definition cameras designed to help investigators solve crimes and develop leads. The department’s new police substation is also nearing completion, with flooring and bullet-resistant drywall recently installed.

County Building Renovation 55 % Complete, Ahead of Schedule

McPHERSON COUNTY - The extensive renovation of the McPherson County building is now about 55 % complete and is ahead of schedule. According to the latest project update, sheet-rock work is nearly finished on the fifth floor—with some painting already underway—and is progressing on the third and fourth floors. The main stairway is installed, and crews will add a decorative handrail this week. Upcoming decisions include whether to install heated sidewalk panels on the west side of the building and what style of exterior lettering to use. Officials said change orders have been minimal and costs remain on target.

County Tables Airport Fuel-Farm Project Amid Cost Questions

McPHERSON COUNTY - A decision on a roughly $1 million project to build a new fuel farm at the McPherson Airport was postponed after questions surfaced about final costs and tank sizes. The proposal would be funded primarily by the FAA and KDOT, leaving the county’s local share at only $49,000. Airport staff asked to down-size the tanks from 12,000- and 10,000-gallon capacity to 8,000 and 5,000 gallons, citing lower demand and concerns about fuel aging. Conflicting cost figures in the paperwork led commissioners to table the item until the project engineer can clarify the numbers.

Sheriff’s Office to Add New K-9 Using Seized Funds

McPHERSON COUNTY - The McPherson County Sheriff’s Office will purchase a new drug-detection dog at no expense to taxpayers. Commissioners learned that the $8,500 cost for the two-year-old Belgian Malinois will be paid entirely from the department’s asset-forfeiture fund—money seized during drug investigations. The female K-9 is already certified with her current handler and will focus on narcotics detection and evidence searches (not apprehension work). Deputies expect the dog to acclimate to her new partner within a day or two and enter service immediately afterward.

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