Pittsburg City Commission Summary
Week of August 12, 2026
City commission pushes for 3.5 mill reduction in 2027 budget
City accepts early payoff of a local company's expansion bonds
Commission approves new decorative lighting for downtown Broadway
Wichita company awarded contract for Locust and Elm tree clearances
Engineering contracts approved for dangerous Free King Highway intersections
Emergency responders expected to join county digital radio system in September
City confirms Little Balkans Festival events will proceed
Commission weighs using data center revenue for tax relief
City commission pushes for 3.5 mill reduction in 2027 budget
PITTSBURG, Kan. — The Pittsburg City Commission directed staff to amend the proposed 2027 budget to include a 3.5-mill reduction, aiming for a property tax rate of roughly 48.5 mills. Despite initial budget cuts of nearly $900,000 presented by City Manager Daron Hall — which included reductions to equipment, travel and facility maintenance — the commission argued for deeper reductions to provide tangible taxpayer relief. To achieve the lower mill levy without cutting personnel or health benefits, the commission advised staff to apply one-time revenues, including proceeds from an early bond payoff, to balance the upcoming budget.
City accepts early payoff of a local company's expansion bonds
PITTSBURG, Kan. — The commission unanimously approved a resolution authorizing an escrow trust agreement for the early defeasance of the Series 2025-A general obligation bonds. Eagle Picher Technologies opted to pay off the 10-year agreement tied to its facility expansion in its first year. Because the bonds cannot be legally called until 2033, the city will establish an escrow account through an unnamed bank to cover the principal and interest payments until that date. The early payoff will net the city approximately $2.5 million in upfront proceeds, which the commission indicated will be routed to the general fund and employee health fund.
Commission approves new decorative lighting for downtown Broadway
PITTSBURG, Kan. — The commission unanimously approved a $79,489 contract with Rival Time Products to install 74 decorative banner lights — plus 10 spare units — along Broadway. The custom-designed light-emitting diode fixtures, funded through the city's existing street light enhancement budget, will be mounted to the tops of existing decorative poles. The project is intended to improve pedestrian safety and illuminate sidewalks throughout the downtown corridor.
Wichita company awarded contract for Locust and Elm tree clearances
PITTSBURG, Kan. — An $89,415 bid from an unnamed Wichita contractor was approved to remove 142 trees from the public right of way along Locust and Elm streets. City staff said the removal focuses on a specific corridor from Cleveland and Elm streets toward the downtown area to clear paths for a potential future sidewalk improvement grant. The proactive clearing is designed to eliminate hazardous, limb-dropping trees and ensure safer, highly visible routes for pedestrians and university students.
Engineering contracts approved for dangerous Free King Highway intersections
PITTSBURG, Kan. — The city took the first steps toward overhauling two major intersections along Free King Highway by approving preconstruction engineering contracts. OWN Engineering was selected to design drainage and turning radius improvements at Atkinson Road to better accommodate heavy truck traffic from nearby industrial facilities. Meanwhile, an unnamed engineering firm will design concrete and grade enhancements for the Free King Highway and Quincy Street intersection, which has a history of poor visibility. Both routes will likely face closures during future construction phases.
Emergency responders expected to join county digital radio system in September
PITTSBURG, Kan. — Following communication difficulties during recent large-scale events and mutual-aid responses, Pittsburg police and fire departments anticipate going live on Crawford County's digital radio network by late September. The transition involves installing new dispatch consoles that mirror the county's system and programming recently purchased dual-band radios. The upgrade aims to end long-standing analog interoperability issues, allowing city agencies to communicate seamlessly with county and rural emergency responders.
City confirms Little Balkans Festival events will proceed
PITTSBURG, Kan. — Despite local rumors suggesting a cancellation, city officials confirmed that the annual Little Balkans Festival will take place over Labor Day weekend. Scheduled events include a Friday night street dance, a quilt show at Memorial Auditorium, a pancake feed and a Sunday supper highlighting local recipes. Camptown Event Center will also host Saturday activities, including a hot dog eating contest and adult tricycle races. The events are being supported by various community groups and a portion of the city's 150th-anniversary celebration fund.
Commission weighs using data center revenue for tax relief
PITTSBURG, Kan. — During 2027 budget discussions, the commission debated integrating early franchise fee revenues from the new Wildcat Data Infrastructure data center to help offset property taxes. The facility is currently projected in preliminary estimates to generate roughly $20,000 monthly for the city based on energy consumption. However, city staff cautioned against aggressively budgeting the new revenue line — which has only been collected for six months — due to the fluctuating, unpredictable nature of data center electricity usage.
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