After a 3-2 split vote, the Manhattan City Commission set a ceiling for 2027 budget plans that it cannot exceed. This maximum would increase city property taxes by 6.7% for the average homeowner. Tuesday’s action does not adopt the budget or set the final mill levy. Commissioners could lower the levy before adopting the budget, and most said they plan to. The vote expressed the commission’s plans to exceed the revenue-neutral rate and scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 15 to discuss the budget. A mill represents $1 in taxes for every $1,000 in assessed, taxable property value. To view…
Author: Cole Bertelsen
Officials from the Riley County Police Department appeared at Tuesday’s city commission meeting to address common questions about their automated license plate readers, but were met with security concerns from commissioners and the public. These plate readers (ALPRs) are high-speed, computer-controlled camera systems mounted on squad cars, poles or overpasses, and include Flock cameras. RCPD credits the use of ALPRs for over 150 positive outcomes in recent cases. RCPD deputy director Erin Freidline said the system takes still images of license plates on the rear of vehicles. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
City officials say a series of major drainage projects are still needed to address flooding concerns across the city, even as work on the levee system nears completion. During Tuesday’s work session, public works director Brian Johnson outlined the city’s stormwater finances and long-term capital improvement plans, which include projects in North Manhattan, Aggieville, South Manhattan and the Campus Creek watershed. Johnson said the city expects about $5.8 million in stormwater revenue in 2026. A portion of that revenue supports debt associated with the levee improvement project through a stormwater surcharge implemented in 2019.
City officials said assessed property values increased about 7.8% from 2025 to 2026 — a gain of roughly $798.6 million — as commissioners received an initial overview of figures that will be used in preparing the 2027 budget. Ben Hart of Baker Tilly, the city’s financial adviser, told commissioners Tuesday the increase would lower the city’s revenue-neutral mill levy from 54.506 mills to 51.056 mills if the city chose to keep property tax revenues at the same level as last year. “Revenue-neutral is really holding revenues the same as it was last year to this year,” Hart said. To view…
Manhattan’s debris collection effort is halfway complete and on schedule, according to the director of public works. Brian Johnson said after finishing the initial pass for large debris, workers will now collect remaining, smaller debris over the following five to seven days. “That first pass was really the big brush and tree piles that were blocking sidewalks and streets and those kind of things,” he said. “So we didn’t pick up all the little stuff on the first pass. The first pass was really stuff that was serious and was blocking access.” To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
The Manhattan City Commission provided feedback on tree plans in Moro Street’s reconstruction design during Tuesday’s work session. All current variations of the design include angled parking on the north side of the street, no parking on the south, wider sidewalks, additional crosswalks and trees along the route. Discussion focused on the number of trees, their placement and cost. One design included 34 trees, while a more conservative proposal pictured 25. City manager Danielle Dulin said they “ballpark that it would cost about $25,000 to $30,000 per tree.” To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
City commissioners debated proposed revisions to Manhattan’s workforce housing sales tax policy Tuesday night. Commissioners pushed back against removing certain requirements and references to workforce housing, which was meant to give the commission more discretion on a case-by-case basis. “The whole rationale for having a policy is to have a set of standards … that our developers can be looking at,” Mayor Susan Adamchak said. The discussion focused heavily on how to define affordability targets, how strictly to cap income eligibility and whether the program should prioritize ownership, rental development or a mix of both. To view the full article…
The Manhattan City Commission approved resolutions permitting alcohol at two city events during its Tuesday meeting, despite commissioner Jim Morrison’s pushback. The commission voted to allow alcohol at concerts in the “Arts in the Park” series. This permit will apply to people possessing or consuming alcoholic beverages in the approved area within City Park from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on June 5, 12, and 26 and July 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31. The Parks and Recreation Department told the commission it plans to host a public watch party June 12 at Anneberg Park for the USA soccer international…
Manhattan city commissioners unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday opposing the proposed incorporation of the city of Green Valley in Pottawatomie County. The resolution says the petition is “inadvisable” under state law. This decision authorizes city manager Danielle Dulin to present Manhattan’s position at an upcoming public hearing before the Pottawatomie County Commission. Dulin said state law requires neighboring cities within five miles of a proposed incorporation to address factors including population growth, annexation history, the ability of the proposed city to provide services and the overall effect on orderly economic development. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
Dave’s Hot Chicken will join the Manhattan fast food scene late this year, according to an announcement from the company. A job listing for general manager of the restaurant lists its future location as 214 Leavenworth St. — the former location of Taco John’s, which closed Feb. 23. The chain also announced a location coming to the east side of Wichita at 2692 N Greenwich Road in the Greenwich Place shopping center, with an anticipated opening in August 2026. Additional restaurants are planned in Lawrence, Topeka and west Wichita, with openings expected throughout 2026. To view the full article visit…