HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The unexpected boost in sales tax revenue for the area means that some cuts that were made to the City of Hutchinson's budget may be restored for next year.
“We’re pretty excited about this,” Hutchinson City Manager Jeff Cantrell said. "We didn’t anticipate this.”
Despite the pandemic, sales tax revenue not only stayed level, it actually increased over the year surpassing last year’s total.
What it means for the city is that a number of seasonal jobs that were eliminated from the budget for next year could be restored. Most of those jobs will be in the parks department. What that will mean for residents is better upkeep of the city’s surroundings.
"We have had some complaints about the tall grass in areas,” Cantrell said. “That will be able to be taken care of.”
It could be seven or eight positions that were eliminated coming back by this spring.
Cantrell says that they may look into some CIP projects that were not on the books for next year as well.
Sales tax revenue for the county increased the past seven months of 2020 despite the pandemic.