Revenue Neutral to be exceeded again
The Hutchinson City Council approved a resolution intending to exceed the revenue neutral rate (RNR) Tuesday morning at Hutchinson City Hall.
Director of Finance Angela Richard said the council is recommended to pass the resolution even if the city does not plan to exceed the RNR, as the resolution is the maximum amount the city could levy.
“This is part of the revenue neutral rate policies,” Richard said. “We need to approve a resolution which gives myself the authority to tell the county to exceed the rate and sets the hearing for September 3, per the SB 13 that was passed, it needs to be between August 20 and September 20.”
To exceed the RNR, a city must levy more mills than the Reno County Clerk calculated as revenue neutral. The current RNR is set at 38.370 mills, with the City of Hutchinson levying 40.326.
The city, while receiving more in revenue due to the rise in property evaluations, does not plan on raising any new taxes.
“We decided we would keep the mill levy flat with the 2024 budget at 40.326,” Richard said. “This resolution would keep that mill levy the same.”
The council approved the motion unanimously, placing the revenue hearing Sept. 3 at 9 a.m.
In other business, the council approved an ordinance authorizing $3.16 million in general obligation bonds, including $2,260,000 to convert Hobart-Detter Field and Fun Valley fields #2 and #3 into synthetic turf.
“The product they design is specifically for baseball and softball,” Director of Parks and Facilities Justin Combs said. “This is designed so the ball plays as close to a natural surface as possible. A lot of research went into this project.”
The city will bond the entire amount with HutchCC and USD 308 financing half of the turf project, paying the city back half the cost within 10 years.
“It will certainly fix Hobart-Detter,” Mayor Greg Fast said. “I know the college is willing to help, long before this came along.”
The other amounts include $150,000 for the Hutchinson Zoo, $90,000 for the fire training center, $165,000 for the Rice Park playground and $160,000 for the “Bad Bobby” Trailhead.
“Things are moving in Hutch, and a lot of things are on the agenda,” Councilman Steve Garza said. “Hutch is a good place to live.”