By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays city commissioners unanimously approved the city’s 2020 budget during their meeting Thursday night. The budget total is $$41,966,419.

Following the public hearing which had no participants, City Manager Toby Dougherty reviewed the budget goals.

“We want the budget to be balanced. We want to keep the mill levy at 25. We have not added an employee since 2010. And we want to continue paying cash for large projects,” said Dougherty.

The mill levy for Hays is the seventh lowest in Kansas and the lowest levy outside of Johnson County.

The city’s assessed valuation increased by 1.6% since 2019, with the value of 1 mill equal to $226,802. The mill levy for Hays has been at or below 25.000 for 13 of the past 14 years.

Dougherty was quick to give credit to Kim Rupp, city finance director.

“The budget is his baby to put together and get to me in raw form, then meet with department heads and sort of congeal it into something that we feel will be palatable to you guys. Then you guys finish molding it before it’s passed,” explained Dougherty. “Kim does a lot of the heavy lifting.”

Commissioners also thanked city employees.

“Employees now have buy-in to the budget,” said Mayor Henry Schwaller, “whether it’s their healthcare program or finding some savings (in their department).

“Most of this budget is possible because they’re finding savings, particularly in recent years as sales tax dollars have dropped,” Schwaller noted. “So we’re able to carry those savings forward and fund future budgets.”

Most of the city’s general fund monies come from a local sales tax.

The 2020 budget contains a programmed step and cost of living increase for all city employees.