City commission approves budget with 3.5 mill levy reduction

City defers $346,000 in maintenance to achieve property tax cut

Opioid settlement funds to cover Wesley House and warming centers

Wildcat Data Infrastructure generating roughly $15,000 monthly in franchise fees

City reaps $2.6 million from early Eagle-Picher settlement payoff

Employee health insurance fund bridged after $806,000 shortfall

Commission delays turf installation for new soccer fields to prioritize tax relief

City officials reveal past misuse of taxpayer funds via city credit cards

City commission approves budget with 3.5 mill levy reduction

PITTSBURG, Kan. — The Pittsburg City Commission unanimously approved the city budget, which features a 3.5-mill reduction in the property tax rate, bringing the final mill levy to 48.506. The reduction is projected to drop property tax revenue to roughly $8.87 million from $9.3 million the previous year. The commission emphasized the cut as a necessary step to provide property tax relief for residents, with plans to explore further reductions in future budget cycles while identifying new revenue sources to support city staff.

City defers $346,000 in maintenance to achieve property tax cut

PITTSBURG, Kan. — To balance the budget while cutting the mill levy by 3.5 mills, city staff identified approximately $346,893 in deferred maintenance as part of nearly $1 million in total expenditure reductions. Cuts include delaying $100,000 in tree removal, $147,000 in golf cart path and drainage improvements at Four Oaks Golf Course, reducing pool improvements and postponing the hiring of a new building inspector. The commission stressed that while nonessential travel and maintenance are delayed, funding for essential safety equipment, such as protective boots for street crews, remains fully intact.

Opioid settlement funds to cover Wesley House and warming centers

PITTSBURG, Kan. — In an effort to trim general fund expenditures, the city is shifting $40,000 in community support costs to be paid out of its opioid settlement funds. The reallocation covers $20,000 for Wesley House and $20,000 for Code Blue warming center services. Officials noted the maneuver preserves essential social services for vulnerable residents while freeing up general fund dollars to help achieve the commission's desired property tax reductions.

Wildcat Data Infrastructure generating roughly $15,000 monthly in franchise fees

PITTSBURG, Kan. — The newly operational Wildcat Data Infrastructure, LLC data center is providing a significant boost to the city's general fund through electrical franchise fees. Finance officials reported that the facility is generating between $15,000 and $16,000 in additional franchise revenue per month, projecting an extra $180,000 annually. City management indicated the new revenue stream will help the city absorb inflationary cost increases and fund mandatory 3 percent employee raises without further burdening property taxpayers.

City reaps $2.6 million from early Eagle-Picher settlement payoff

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Pittsburg recently received a $2.61 million lump sum from the Eagle-Picher battery manufacturing company, opting for an early bond defeasance instead of accepting a $3 million payout over 10 years. Officials allocated $806,000 to bridge a shortfall in the city's health insurance fund and used $246,622 to help offset the property tax reduction. The remaining $1.56 million will be kept in reserve and strategically scheduled over the next few years to guarantee continued property tax relief.

Employee health insurance fund bridged after $806,000 shortfall

PITTSBURG, Kan. — The city's self-insured employee health plan suffered an $806,000 deficit this year, heavily impacted by a single $600,000 stop-loss incident that city staff said was governed by the federal No Surprises Act. Instead of drawing from general reserves or drastically increasing employee premiums, the city used a portion of the recent Eagle-Picher settlement to bring the fund balance back to zero. City staff defended the self-insured model against traditional commercial insurance, noting the current structure has saved taxpayers millions over the past decade while keeping employee premiums flat.

Commission delays turf installation for new soccer fields to prioritize tax relief

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Despite receiving a $967,000 estimate from Mammoth Sports Construction to install an artificial turf field, the city commission opted to move forward with two natural grass fields for the city's newly acquired 23.7-acre soccer complex. While the commission acknowledged the benefits of turf for expanding tournament play and mitigating weather delays, they agreed that the remaining Eagle-Picher settlement funds should be strictly reserved for property tax relief rather than unbudgeted recreational upgrades, leaving the door open for turf in future years.

City officials reveal past misuse of taxpayer funds via city credit cards

PITTSBURG, Kan. — While discussing expenditure reductions, city officials revealed that recent scrutiny of city employee purchasing cards (P-cards) uncovered what was described as unauthorized purchases. Although officials noted that 90 percent of employees followed city policies correctly, the discovery prompted strict new financial protocols. The finance department has implemented a new automated P-card system requiring signed affidavits for lost receipts and mandatory training for all cardholders to ensure proper oversight of municipal spending.

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