Proposed budget, increasing taxes by 1.55%, approved
After numerous viewings and tweakings of the 2026 budget, Hillsboro City Council members approved a draft budget Tuesday and set a public hearing for 4 p.m. Sept. 16.
The budget will raise property taxes by 1.55%, with a projected tax rate of 38.577 mills, compared to a revenue-neutral rate of 37.989. The mill rate would actually decline from 39.989 mills, but taxpayers might still pay more because of property reappraisals,
“We’re not cutting any bone, and we’re not cutting any of our strategic plan,” Mayor Lou Thurston said.
The total budget as proposed is $14,167,866, up 15.90% from this year.
Council members voted to issue $2.68 million in industrial revenue bonds i so Salem Home can replace its heating and air conditioning system. The nursing home, not the city, will pay off the bonds.
Elm St. and US-56 could get an eastbound turn lane and new concrete south of the intersection after Kansas Department of Transportation awarded a $49,889.69 grant to EBH Engineering to design the project. Under a different program, KDOT and EBH reached an agreement for engineering of a walking and bicycle path on Orchard Dr. from Ash St. to Sonic Drive-In.
Council members hired Vogts Parga Construction for $866,949.15 in work on S. Wilson and S. Lincoln St. Work on Wilson St. is expected to start in early October and be finished by early November. Work on S. Lincoln St. will begin in the spring.
Hillsboro’s plan to develop a dog park to be open by fall got a boost from the county fair board when it gave approval for the city to repurpose the fenced rodeo arena. City staff will clean and level the area.
“A temporary fence or barrier will also be installed to separate the dog park from the main arena, which becomes muddy and unsafe during wet weather,” Stiles said, noting that the dog park would be closed during the fair.
Stiles is working to develop shared-use agreements with Hillsboro schools and Tabor College for sports facilities. The school district’s agreement expired in 2023. It offsets maintenance, utilities, and general upkeep costs and includes cost sharing for capital investments. Tabor, which uses tennis courts and a softball diamond, has not had a shared-use agreement with the city.
Hillsboro resident Ken Kliewer talked to council members about property at 310 N. Washington St. that is the target of a code enforcement action. Kliewer said her might be interested in purchasing it if the city ends up owning the property.