2016 Bdget
The Manhattan City Commission conducted a preliminary review of the 2016 Budget, Tuesday.
The budget comes in at just over 138 million dollars, an increase of 4.2 million from 2015.
“The large increases are coming from the General Fund at $1.7 million increased from 2015 as well as the Special Revenue Funds,” said Hillary Badger, assistant director of finance for the City of Manhattan.
Property taxes have also been increased in the 2016 Budget.
“Overall, we’re looking at a proposed mill levy increase of 3.9 mills,” Badger added.
General Fund Capital Improvement spending in 2016 is over $900 thousand, a dramatic increase from roughly $186 thousand in 2015.
The Commission will conduct three more budget work sessions, with an optional fifth session, before the final version is certified on August 21st.
North Corridor Development
The Manhattan City Commission discussed the future growth of K-State with President, Kirk Schulz Tuesday.
The two sides have identified the northern corridor of campus, which includes areas along north Denison Avenue and Kimball Avenue, as hotbeds for economic development.
The north corridor is highlighted by the relocation of the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the construction of NBAF. With the two projects and other current developments, K-State expects the addition of 950 jobs to the local economy with an additional payroll of $133 million in the coming years.
The goal of both the City and University is to significantly increase the economic potential of the north corridor by developing comprehensive improvement plans that attract both private and public businesses. K-State estimates that the growth potential of the north corridor is several thousand jobs with an increased payroll in the hundreds of millions.
