The Hutchinson City Council unanimously approved its 2026 budget during the Sept. 2 meeting, adopting a plan that includes a 1.7 mill increase in property taxes.
A handful of attendees voiced frustration with the increased tax rate.
Council members acknowledged those concerns but emphasized the difficulty of balancing competing community priorities.
Homelessness Discussion Dominates Meeting
A good portion of Tuesday evening’s meetings was spent on how to address homelessness in Avenue A Park and the surrounding downtown area. The discussion grew out of a proposal to consider an anti-camping ordinance.
Mayor Stacy Goss pointed out that many activities such an ordinance would restrict are already illegal. Councilman Greg Fast suggested posting a police officer in the park full-time, an idea Police Chief Brice Burlie dismissed as impractical, noting it would require hiring four additional officers.
The conversation broadened into the root causes of homelessness. “The number of homeless people, or aimless people, is a bellwether to your community,” said Shara Gonzales, president and CEO of New Beginnings. She cited rising living costs as a key factor. “The cost of living has gone up, and as that does, more and more people do fall out, with no way to get back in place,” Gonzales said. “Once you don’t have anything, it’s very hard to acquire things.”
No action was taken on the ordinance, as it was a discussion item only.
Rezoning and Demolition Decisions
Council also revisited a rezoning request for the northwest corner of East 23rd Avenue and North Lorraine Street. Developers who had planned to build a car wash there have withdrawn, but property owner Keith Frederick still seeks to change the zoning from high-density residential (R-5) to commercial (C-1). Council voted unanimously to send the matter back to the planning commission for a second time and requested additional feedback from neighboring property owners.
In another unanimous decision, the council overturned the denial of a demolition permit for the Bernard’s Restaurant and Catering building. Owner Susan Gress and her contractor were granted permission to proceed, though they indicated they hope to preserve structurally sound sections of the building.
Funding Request Tabled
The nonprofit Everfull, which provides meals to seniors and underserved residents, requested up to $40,000 in city funding after losing a contract with the South Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging. Council members tabled the request after a lengthy discussion.