McPherson – Week of August 6, 2025
County Enacts Temporary Data Center Ban; County Pauses Sales Tax Hike; City Holds Mill Levy; Leadership Summit in McPherson; Drainage Issue
County Enacts Temporary Ban on Data Center Development
County Hits Pause on Half-Cent Sales Tax Plan for EMS Funding
City of McPherson Holds Mill Levy Steady in Proposed 2026 Budget
Global Leadership Summit Comes to McPherson
Unexpected Drainage Issue Adds $17K to Elm Street Project Cost
1. County Enacts Temporary Ban on Data Center Development
MCPHERSON COUNTY - The McPherson County Commission unanimously approved a temporary moratorium on the development of new data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations in unincorporated areas of the county. Jon Kinsey, Planning and Zoning Administrator, initially requested a moratorium extending to January 1, 2028, to allow the planning board ample time to study the impact of such facilities on the county’s comprehensive plan, water resources, and noise levels. However after significant discussion, the commission agreed to a much shorter moratorium, setting the expiration date for March 1, 2026, and amended the resolution to exclude existing facilities from the pause. The passed Resolution 2025-14 directs the planning board to review and revise zoning regulations to ensure public health and safety are protected.
2. County Hits Pause on Half-Cent Sales Tax Plan for EMS Funding
MCPHERSON COUNTY - A proposal to create a county-wide half-cent sales tax to fund emergency medical services and other health initiatives is being sent back for further review after commissioners felt the plan had strayed from its original goal of significantly reducing property taxes. The initial concept was to lower the county’s mill levy by about 2.4 mills by using sales tax revenue to fund ambulance services, mental health, and the county health department. However, after discussion to remove the health department and mental health from the plan, the projected property tax relief shrank considerably. Citing a need to get closer to the original goal and ensure a true tax-burden reduction for homeowners, the commission will reconvene with the various ambulance service providers for another study session before the August 29 deadline to place the item on the November ballot.
3. City of McPherson Holds Mill Levy Steady in Proposed 2026 Budget
MCPHERSON - McPherson property owners will not see an increase in the city’s property-tax rate, as the City Commission gave its consent to publish the proposed 2026 budget with a mill levy identical to the previous year. The mill levy will remain at 53.238, which is projected to generate $8.28 million in property-tax revenue. The city’s total budget, including all funds, is approximately $66.6 million. A public hearing for the budget and the revenue-neutral rate is scheduled for August 26, 2025, at 9 a.m. at the McPherson Municipal Center. Finance Director Richard Miller credited the city’s department heads for their work in preparing organized budgets that made it possible to avoid a tax-rate increase.
4. Global Leadership Summit Comes to McPherson
MCPHERSON - The City of McPherson and Loyd Group, LLC are sponsoring the Global Leadership Summit, a worldwide simulcast event featuring nationally known speakers, on Thursday and Friday at the Community Building. The event is expected to draw nearly 100 local attendees, who will join a global audience estimated between 300,000 and 500,000 people. The local Pizza Ranch is partnering to provide lunch for the two-day event, and the Loyd Group has donated books from the speakers to be given away as door prizes during the six sessions. Registration for the leadership event was still open at the time of the meeting.
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5. Unexpected Drainage Issue Adds $17K to Elm Street Project Cost
MCPHERSON - The McPherson City Commission approved a nearly $17,000 change order for the Elm Street Drainage Project to address a newly discovered issue. During construction at the corner of Maple and Euclid, crews found a storm sewer that was not connected to the existing system. The payment of $6,985 to the contractor, approved by the commission, will cover the additional work required to properly tie the sewer line in. Officials noted that this final change order completes the project and resolves a long-term drainage problem in the area.
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