MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission unanimously approved a $95.07 million budget for 2027 Wednesday following public concerns about rising property taxes, employee raises and the affordability of remaining in the county.
The spending plan includes approximately $30.85 million in ad valorem property taxes and carries an estimated levy of 37.75 mills. That is slightly below the county’s current levy of 37.8 mills but above the revenue-neutral rate of 35.704 mills.
Commissioners first voted 4-1 to approve a resolution allowing the county to exceed the revenue-neutral rate. Commissioner Ron Vincent cast the dissenting vote. The commission later approved the overall budget on a 5-0 vote.
County Administrator Randy Partington said adopting a revenue-neutral budget would have required approximately $1.6 million to $1.67 million in additional spending reductions.
“That would be cut in personnel,” Partington said. “You’d have to choose what departments that you want to cut personnel.”
The revenue-neutral rate is the mill levy that would generate the same amount of property-tax revenue as the previous year, excluding new construction. Because the county’s assessed valuation increased approximately 5% to 6%, Reno County can reduce its mill levy while still collecting more property-tax revenue.
“The budget that you’ll look at today, that’s in the packet, is a small reduction in the mill levy, but because of valuation, it still goes up in taxes,” Partington said.
Before adopting the budget, commissioners voted 3-2 to include a 4% employee pay increase. Commissioners Don Bogner, Daniel Winger and John Hirst supported the increase, while Commissioners Randy Parks and Vincent opposed it.
The commission had previously reached a consensus during a study session to include a 3% raise. Partington said updated sales-tax and interest-income projections allowed commissioners to consider the larger increase while still slightly lowering the mill levy.
The difference between the two options was estimated at approximately $190,000. A budget containing a 3% raise would have carried an estimated levy of 37.486 mills.
“I would like to probably stay with the — be conservative on our 3% and see where we land next year,” Parks said.
Supporters of the larger increase argued Reno County must remain competitive with other government agencies and private employers to retain trained workers. Commissioners cited previous instances in which the county lost emergency medical personnel after a neighboring county increased its wages.
The raise does not necessarily mean every employee will receive the full 4% increase. Partington said employees at the top of their pay ranges could receive smaller increases, depending on adjustments to the county’s pay scale.
Residents describe growing financial pressure
Several residents told commissioners that property-tax increases are creating serious financial pressure.
Tammy Polton said her annual property taxes increased from approximately $6,000 to $10,000, forcing her to withdraw money from her retirement account. She also questioned why a nearby property with more acreage and improvements carried a lower tax bill.
“There’s great people that live here, but the great people are going to be gone because we can’t afford to stay here anymore,” Polton said.
Leah Dewar, who lives near the Reno-Sedgwick county line, said taxes on a family farm she purchased in 2024 increased from approximately $3,200 to $8,000. The following year’s bill increased to about $8,400.
Dewar said the purchase included farm equipment and other property, while the home itself was built in 1900 and has significant problems.
“The foundation is failing. The garage is caving in. There’s termites. There’s radon,” Dewar said. “We went off of a purchase price instead of the actual value of the property.”
Erwin Daniels, who lives near the former Hutchinson Naval Air Station, said his property taxes increased by approximately $700. Daniels said he and his wife live on Social Security and must balance taxes against necessities such as food and medicine.
“You can’t afford to eat, you can’t afford to buy your medicine, you can’t afford to pay taxes,” Daniels said. “What are you going to do? Just get taxed out of your home?”
Reno County Appraiser Michael Plank said his office determines a property’s classification and valuation but does not determine the resulting tax bill.
“When you boil everything away, we’re primarily concerned with two things: classification and valuation,” Plank said. “I can’t change how much property tax.”
Plank encouraged residents who disagree with an appeal decision to contact his office for a detailed explanation. Property owners also have the right to appeal the county’s decision further.
County officials said Kansas offers several property-tax relief programs for qualifying residents. Those programs generally provide credits or refunds through the state income-tax system, requiring eligible residents to file a return.
Commissioners also emphasized that Reno County receives only a portion of each property owner’s total tax payment. School districts, Hutchinson Community College, cities, townships and other taxing entities independently establish their budgets and mill levies.
Officials highlighted an online tool allowing property owners to enter an address and see how their taxes are divided among the different taxing entities.
Sales tax and economic development discussed
Residents asked whether Reno County could pursue a countywide sales-tax increase to reduce its dependence on property taxes.
Officials said Hutchinson’s three-quarter-cent sales-tax increase belongs to the city and does not directly provide additional revenue to Reno County or residents outside Hutchinson. A countywide sales tax would also apply inside Hutchinson, further increasing the combined rate paid by shoppers in the city.
Commissioners said Reno County could pursue legislative authorization and eventually ask voters to approve a countywide tax. However, they questioned whether Hutchinson voters would support another increase.
Parks said officials previously discussed a countywide half-cent sales tax that could have provided revenue to the county and every incorporated city. The proposal could have supported property-tax relief and economic development, but Hutchinson ultimately pursued its own sales tax.
Bogner cautioned that approving a sales tax would not automatically lower property taxes unless commissioners formally committed the revenue for that purpose.
Phil Douglas encouraged commissioners to consider industrial projects that could expand the tax base and spread government costs among more taxpayers.
“I would encourage you to look at any industry that wants to come into the county to increase our tax base,” Douglas said. “I think it’s important that we look at the possibilities that we could experience here in Reno County.”
The budget maintains $100,000 for economic development operations. StartUp Hutch is budgeted to receive $87,500.
StartUp Hutch representative Graham Klemme said the organization requested $100,000 but can continue operating with the approved amount.
“We can still operate at the 87-five,” Klemme said. “It’s a little bit less than we had anticipated.”
Klemme said approximately 40% of StartUp Hutch’s business comes from Reno County communities outside Hutchinson.
County reserves defended
County officials defended placing money into reserves for future building, equipment, road and bridge expenses. They said setting aside money annually can prevent the county from needing to issue bonds or approve a large tax increase when major repairs become necessary.
Partington said Reno County collected approximately $6.4 million in sales-tax revenue last year and is on pace to receive more than $6 million this year. The county budgeted $5.75 million for 2027 to account for possible economic changes.
The county collected approximately $4.4 million in interest income last year but budgeted $2.1 million for 2027 because future interest rates remain uncertain.
Partington said the $95.07 million budget represents the county’s total spending authority and does not mean the entire amount will be spent. The total includes non-tax-supported accounts, capital reserves and money maintained for future obligations.
For example, Reno County has approximately $11.5 million reserved for the eventual closure and long-term care of its landfill. Actual county expenditures last year totaled just under $65 million.
Special districts and WIC agreement approved
Commissioners also unanimously approved the county’s 2027 special districts budget following a public hearing.
The commission authorized Hirst and Reno County Health Department Co-Director Megan Gottschalk to sign the county’s Women, Infants and Children local agency contract with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment once it is finalized.
Gottschalk said KDHE asked agencies to review and return their contracts by Sept. 18. Unlike last year’s agreement, the new contract will not initially specify how much Reno County will receive because the state is waiting for federal funding figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“They assured us that our full award would be within 5% of what we have been receiving in the past,” Gottschalk said.
Kansas’ base WIC grant increased to approximately $21 million, the highest amount the state has received for the program.
Information Technology reports increased workload
Reno County Information Technology Director Tim McClatchy also presented his department’s annual report.
The nine-person department supports 18 county departments, District Court and Court Services, and 10 public safety agencies. Its responsibilities include maintaining computers, servers, networks, data storage, 911 and computer-aided dispatch systems and technology used in public safety vehicles.
McClatchy said the department handled 4,710 service tickets in 2025 and expects to surpass 5,000 this year.
“There is an increase of work, and that’s due to people utilizing technology more,” McClatchy said.
The department has used approximately 63% of its budget and remains on track for the year. Much of its overtime is connected to after-hours public safety calls and projects requiring systems or networks to be temporarily shut down.
McClatchy said the county has experienced no significant cybersecurity incidents or material compromises since his previous annual report. The county received approximately 1.6 million emails and sent about 521,000. Employees reported 962 suspicious emails, including 237 identified as threats.
Commissioners also supported a letter backing the city of Hutchinson’s application for a state water infrastructure grant. The city plans to use the funding for a study examining possible new locations for municipal wells eight and 11.
Partington said the wells need to be relocated and described the project as important to the community. Hirst signed the county’s letter of support.