TSnews

HAYSVILLE – When Sedgwick County mailed new appraisals of residential properties this spring, some Haysville residents responded by calling City Hall. Their concern was that higher valuations would lead to higher property taxes.

Chief Administrative Officer Will Black heard those concerns. In fact, he told council members at Monday’s monthly meeting that work on the 2024 budget began when these concerned residents contacted the city.

Black said the city’s assessed valuation for 2024 is $84,569,077, an increase of $8.4 million over the 2023 valuation. That means every mill of property taxes will raise $84,569.077. A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of assessed valuation.

State law requires cities to give notice of their intent to exceed the revenue neutral tax rate. A revenue neutral rate mill levy would raise only the same amount of tax dollars as the previous year. For Haysville, the revenue neutral rate for 2024 would be 40.907 mills.

Black said the proposed 2024 budget has a levy of 41.950 mills, which is a decrease of 3.482 mills from 2023. This levy will amount to a 2.5 percent increase in total dollars levied over 2023. Black said the additional $88,149.05 raised by that mill levy reflected the city’s valuation increase due to new construction, annexed property and property with changed use in the past year. The increase also considered the amount of funds allocated to the library’s budget. The library will receive the equivalent of 5.25 mills in 2024.

The result, Black said, is that the owner of a home valued at $100,000 is projected to pay $482.43 in city property taxes in 2024. That same homeowner paid $522.47 in city property taxes in 2023.

The council approved the plan to exceed the revenue neutral rate and set the revenue neutral public hearing and regular budget hearing for 7 p.m. Sept. 11.

In other business, the council:

• Approved a resolution authorizing the issuance of general obligation temporary notes in the amount of $3,925,000 to fund infrastructure improvements for the Wheatland Village Addition. These improvements will be paid by homeowners through special assessments. The winning bid was submitted by Robert W. Baird and Company with a true interest cost of 4.439743 percent. The sale will close Aug. 1.

• Held a public hearing regarding the issuance of $13 million in industrial revenue bonds. The council approved a resolution to issue the bonds for the Homestead of Haysville LLC project, which will be a healthcare and assisted living facility.

• Approved an ordinance amending the city’s zoning regulations and updating zoning maps to coincide with the amendments.

• Approved a bid of $637,552.75 from Mies Construction to build a series of retention ponds and drainage channels on city-owned property in the north half-mile between 79th and 87th streets south. The project will coincide with other drainage improvements being done by Sedgwick County. Once the improvements are complete, the 80 acres owned by the city will have the potential for development. The cost will be paid from capital improvements.

• Approved an agreement with Professional Engineering Consultants for design services for the Broadway sidewalk project. The city wants to have a set of plans that might enhance its chances of receiving funding through a Kansas Department of Transportation Cost Share Program. PEC’s services will cost $97,900. The sidewalk will be on the west side of Broadway between Berlin Street and the south side of the M.S. Mitch Mitchell Floodway. The estimated construction budget is $1,079,400.

• Received and filed the June expenditures.

The meeting began with Mayor Russ Kessler reading a proclamation designating July as Parks and Recreation Month in Haysville. Police chief Jeff Whitfield promoted officer LaVon Crotts to the rank of lieutenant. Crotts now will oversee patrol for the department.