The Manhattan City Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved placing a 0.5% citywide sales tax for street maintenance on the Nov. 3 ballot. If approved by voters, the 10-year sales tax would take effect April 1, 2027, following the expiration of the city’s existing 0.2% dedicated street sales tax. City officials estimate the new tax would generate about $8 million annually, with $6 million dedicated to repairing and rehabilitating local streets and $2 million for minor streets. City manager Danielle Dulin said the funding would supplement existing street funding and is intended to help raise Manhattan’s pavement condition index from its…
Author: Cole Bertelsen
Mayor Susan Adamchak announced several staffing changes at this week’s city commission meeting. Adamchak said Chelsea Johnson recently became promoted to city clerk. Johnson had served as administrative assistant for 16 years. The city clerk’s office serves as custodian of public records and the clerk of the Manhattan City Commission. Its responsibilities include handling open records requests, updating the city code and managing city records. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
Manhattan city commissioners reached a consensus on lowering the proposed 2027 mill levy and renewing a sales tax for street maintenance during Tuesday’s work session. The new budget proposal would increase the average homeowner’s property taxes by 3.5%. A majority of the commission directed city administration to reduce the mill levy from 54.506 to 52.8, as well as add a 10-year, half-cent sales tax for street maintenance. A mill represents $1 in taxes for every $1,000 in assessed, taxable property value. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
A chain of collegiate-themed hotels has bought Bluemont Hotel and plans to convert it by next year. The real estate brokerage firm involved announced the acquisition and conversion of the hotel into Graduate by Hilton Manhattan, aiming for its new look to be unveiled in early 2027. The hotel’s new owners are TCOR Hotel Partners. Bluemont Hotel had a listed price of $17 million. Graduate Hotels are known for themed interiors, specialized public spaces and food-and-beverage concepts modeled after local flavors. According to the firm’s announcement, the reimagined hotel will feature refreshed guest rooms, enhanced gathering spaces and design elements…
The Manhattan City Commission expressed plans to increase sales taxes by 0.3 cents per dollar after two of its city sales taxes are set to expire. The two set to expire are a one-fifth cent per dollar sales tax in 2026 and a one-fourth cent per dollar sales tax in 2027 (totaling 0.45 cents per dollar). City staff members presented three options that would renew the city’s sales taxes at one-half cent, three-quarters of a cent or 1 cent. Each option would dedicate about $3 million annually to debt payments and provide varying funding for streets, deferred maintenance, parks and…
City commissioners discussed approaches to the 2027 budget on Tuesday, including whether to maintain the proposed mill levy after the county’s assessed property valuation figures came in lower than expected. The current budget proposal would increase the average homeowner’s property taxes by 6.7%. City manager Danielle Dulin maintained her recommendation to keep the city’s mill levy at 54.506, allowing the city government to capture more revenue from property value growth and direct it toward the bond and interest fund. A mill represents $1 in taxes for every $1,000 in assessed, taxable property value. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
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…
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…