Riley County Commission Summary
Week of March 13, 2026
Commissioners discuss timeline for county administrator search
Auto dealership remittance drives surge in county sales tax revenue
Commission to support bill giving counties control over motor vehicle fees
County closely monitoring proposed state property tax caps
Aggieville police substation lease moves forward
County prepares for state's 'bathroom bill' implementation
Fort Riley and USD 383 sign intergovernmental construction agreement
ATA Bus route expansions halted following regional funding cuts
Historical museum to launch new outreach program
Commissioners discuss timeline for county administrator search
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. - Discussions have been initiated at the county level on a concrete timeline to hire the county's first administrator and reorganize local government departments. Information technology and geographic information systems director Corey Meyer proposed a schedule that would finalize a job description by mid-April, begin recruitment in May and potentially bring an administrator on board by late fall. While budget and finance officer Brittany Phillips said the 2026 budget could support a single administrator position, funding for a full administrative support department will likely need to wait until the 2027 budget cycle to avoid financial strain.
Auto dealership remittance drives surge in county sales tax revenue
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. - Riley County saw a significant bump in sales tax revenue for the month of December, coming in nearly 30 percent higher than the previous year. The county treasurer's office attributed the surge to a local auto dealership that remits its sales tax annually, resulting in automotive sales tax revenue that was 43 percent higher than budgeted for the month. Overall, the county's year-to-date sales tax collections are up 14.7 percent compared to the same period last year, providing a comfortable buffer for the general fund.
Commission to support bill giving counties control over motor vehicle fees
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. - Riley County will submit testimony supporting Senate Bill 404, which would affect county authority over motor vehicle transaction fees. The county treasurer's office reported that the bill recently passed the Kansas Senate and is headed to the House Transportation Committee. The treasurer's office argued that the state's current one-size-fits-all approach does not work for counties with varying transaction volumes, and the proposed bill — which includes a two-year sunset provision — would help Riley County adequately recover the costs of providing local motor vehicle services.
County closely monitoring proposed state property tax caps
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. - Riley County officials are keeping a close eye on property tax legislation currently moving through the Kansas Legislature that could significantly limit local spending. The latest iteration of the bill would restrict local governments from increasing their budgets beyond their revenue-neutral rate plus the rate of inflation, currently estimated at 2.8 percent. Local officials expressed concern that if the legislation passes and is implemented in the current budget year, it would force municipalities to budget downward for 2027 and alter long-term financial planning.
Aggieville police substation lease moves forward
MANHATTAN, Kan. - A new lease agreement for a Riley County Police Department substation in the Aggieville entertainment district is nearing final approval. County counselor Jacob Hansen presented the finalized lease, noting the only major change from the initial draft ties rent escalation to the regional Consumer Price Index rather than a flat 3 percent annual rate. The county opted to wait to officially sign the agreement until the Riley County Law Enforcement Agency reviews the plans at its next meeting, with a goal of transitioning officers to the new facility by October.
County prepares for state's 'bathroom bill' implementation
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. - Following the judicial denial of a temporary restraining order against Senate Bill 244, which restricts bathroom access based on sex assigned at birth, Riley County is preparing its facilities to comply. County counselor Jacob Hansen informed officials that the county is working with facilities staff to install posters and single-occupant locks on qualifying multiple-occupant restrooms. Hansen noted that while Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach's office has indicated enforcement timing could be affected in the near term, the county is positioning itself to be legally protected regardless of the ongoing litigation's outcome.
Fort Riley and USD 383 sign intergovernmental construction agreement
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce director of military relations Christian Bishop reported that Fort Riley and Manhattan-Ogden Unified School District 383 have signed a new intergovernmental service agreement. The partnership will allow the school district to assist with contracting for upcoming construction and barracks updates on the military installation. Bishop noted the move is expected to cut down on federal administrative wait times while keeping contracting dollars and economic benefits within the local community.
ATA Bus route expansions halted following regional funding cuts
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Despite a recent transit study highlighting the need for additional public transportation routes in the region, the ATA Bus system will not be expanding its services. It was noted during the county meeting that Junction City, Geary County and Geary County Unified School District 475 are drastically cutting their funding to the transit authority. As a result, no new routes will be added in the near future, though the county did finalize a contract for a new bus shelter near Fifth and Leavenworth streets in Manhattan to better serve local high-rise residents and the Manhattan Senior Center.
Historical museum to launch new outreach program
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. - The Riley County Historical Museum is launching a new traveling outreach history program designed to bring educational events to the county's smaller, rural communities. Museum director Katharine Hensler announced the initiative will kick off April 2 in the city of Riley with a free panel discussion at a local restaurant. In addition to the new outreach program, Hensler reported that the Riley County Historical Society has approved $30,000 to hire a contract registrar tasked with processing a backlog of approximately 5,000 historical objects.
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