Scottsbluff local news summary
Week of August 10 2025
City Plans for Future of Trash as City of Gering Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Nears Capacity
City Eyes $58.7M Budget, Holds Line on Property Taxes for Third Year
Utility Rates Poised for 3% Increase
Major Equipment and Infrastructure Projects Planned
Downtown Improvements on the Horizon with Building Purchase
City Plans for Future of Trash as City of Gering Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Nears Capacity
SCOTTSBLUFF - With the City of Gering Municipal Solid Waste Landfill (Gering Landfill) projected to be full by May 2027, the city is moving forward with plans to build its own transfer station. Officials have budgeted $3.7 million for the project, which they say will give the city greater flexibility and more options for handling solid waste. A key concern is the potential cost to residents. The current tipping fee is just under $50 per ton, while early estimates for a new regional landfill site 16 miles north of town place the fee around $67 per ton. The city has hired the engineering firm HDR, Inc. to conduct financial studies to ensure any new tipping fee is reasonable for customers before making a final decision on the location.
City Eyes $58.7M Budget, Holds Line on Property Taxes for Third Year
SCOTTSBLUFF - The city council reviewed a proposed $58.7 million budget for the 2026 fiscal year, representing a 7.8% increase of $4.25 million over the previous year. Despite the increase in spending, the city does not plan to request an increase in property taxes for the third consecutive year and anticipates the mill levy will likely decrease once updated property valuations are received. The budget was described as a “conservative approach” that builds on several financially strong years, allowing the city to maintain the maximum state-allowed reserve of six months of operating expenses. The proposal also includes cost-of-living wage increases for city employees, ranging from 3% to 5%. The fiscal year runs from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026.
Utility Rates Poised for 3% Increase
SCOTTSBLUFF - Residents will likely see a 3% increase in most of their monthly utility bills in the coming fiscal year. The proposed rate hike will apply across the board to services like water and electricity. For a customer who uses 5,000 gallons of water, this will mean an increase from $1.76 to about $1.81 per thousand gallons. The only utility to be spared an increase is the stormwater surcharge, which will remain at its current level. The rate adjustments are part of the city’s annual budget considerations to keep pace with costs while trying to strike a balance between affordability and encouraging conservation.
Major Equipment and Infrastructure Projects Planned
SCOTTSBLUFF - The city’s Capital Improvement Budget outlines several major investments in infrastructure and equipment. The plan allocates over $9.6 million for buildings and infrastructure and nearly $1.2 million for vehicles and equipment. Notable projects include spending $100,000 to replace the failing concrete aprons at the public safety building, purchasing a new, more efficient truck-mounted broom sweeper for $385,000, and dedicating $420,000 for ongoing water main replacements in areas with frequent breaks. The fire department will also receive two new cardiac monitors, compatible with those used by Regional West Emergency Medical Services (EMS) ambulances, and a new thermal imaging camera.
Downtown Improvements on the Horizon with Building Purchase
SCOTTSBLUFF - The city is nearing the final purchase of the former school district building, a move hailed as “significant progress” for downtown revitalization. Plans for the property include creating much-needed downtown public restrooms and providing office space to support events and activities at the adjacent plaza. In another downtown-related effort, the city is undertaking a complete update of its Public Improvement Standards. The current guidelines date back to 1996 and are considered inadequate for modern needs, such as designing streets to accommodate larger fire trucks.
email subscriptions currently unavailable but are coming soon
Sponsors (click me!)
Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below:
citizen journal offers three flagship products: a daily national news summary, a daily Kansas news summary, and local news and school board summaries from 12 cities across Kansas. Each issue contains 5 paragraph-length stories that are made to be read in 5 minutes. Use the links in the header to navigate to national, kansas, and local coverage. Subscribe to each, some, or all to get an email when new issues are published for FREE!
Contact: greg@citizenjournal.us
