[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6504537,"mediaKeyId","5598201-17ca6b1e18da785fafefc258627a8e99","parentId",5598201,"title","Augusta previews Sept. 2 budget hearing, flags 4-mill proposal for four public-safety officers and several infrastructure updates","audioSeconds",1122,"startMs",1041000,"endMs",2163000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5598201-17ca6b1e18da785fafefc258627a8e99&start=1041&end=2163","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5598201-17ca6b1e18da785fafefc258627a8e99/thumbnail_1041000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6504537/Augusta/Butler-County/Kansas/Augusta-previews-Sept-2-budget-hearing-flags-4-mill-proposal-for-four-public-safety-officers-and-several-infrastructure-updates","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6504537-0071693d57c87bac71c8ae1d1a10f73c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773555571&Signature=hbd4m9DnLIcgAtKLfRhvV6xeNvJp~m77TDSbFs~Ft4~mttsQnkh9UewUKB8rTvS4tCEC6WFpYrAALqOuaWBUY0Rsw4Ud5GoJvZN1-y4UxNPDeHecO7ilK6kqdiNfa-oVWpTePbv8XlZxse4u7ew41ugRixQn7UrmknTaIsu-nWzdEyprGipIWTmlVQgOUpjPkaXl7TQgn6QU9d3azPezglkwh4ydU1cVr1mfdX6aUz3fiKmRnP9ddVormb-Vof6WPeccOLE5KfsDhIuV~dpLoeXjZLuZ9MFPw1zOQ2LmLfQBUTfNwAan3cRxNm~KgF0ulhVGvKiJHjfWvh6RLYQv5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Augusta, KS","date","2025-08-19T12:49:28Z","article","City Manager Josh told the Augusta City Council on Aug. 18 that the city will hold its 2026 budget hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 2, and previewed major projects and a proposed 4-mill property-tax increase to fund four public-safety officers.

The 4-mill increase, Josh said, is driven by staffing needs in the city’s combined police-fire model and would fund four officers: \"That's 4 officers. That's what it is,\" he said. He said the change follows growing call volumes, recruitment and retention challenges and a shift away from a long-used dual-trained police-and-fire model.

Why it matters: council members and residents will debate the proposed levy at the Sept. 2 hearing; the additional officers are intended to address longer response times and rising call volumes the city manager described as a roughly 30% increase in recent years.

Josh outlined several capital and operational updates ahead of the hearing. He said the city secured a $400,000 CCLIP (Connecting Links) grant for pavement improvements along U.S. Highway 400; the work is likely to occur in 2027 and will focus on the asphalt sections west of State Street. He also reported completion of repairs to the Mulvane transmission water line — a break beneath the river and railroad that had taken about a year of insurance and railroad coordination to resolve and is now in testing to restore flow.

On the municipal splash pad, Josh said the city received incorrect replacement parts after a storm damaged electrical components; the city is awaiting the correct parts before reopening for the final weeks of the season. He also said the city and the contracted animal clinic are dissolving their arrangement: August will be the last month of payments, the clinic will remove its cremator, and the city will explore alternatives to provide animal-control services.

On electric infrastructure, Josh said the city received notice that a roughly $4 million federal grant for electric improvements is officially closed out; the work is intended to improve grid reliability and provide capacity for future development. He said final high-voltage tie-ins were underway.

Transportation and bridges: Josh provided a status update on the Redbud bridge project’s phase 1 over Highway 54/400 — embankments and retaining walls are in place and the bridge structure is expected to be installed in the next 30 to 40 days. He said phase 1 was about 80% federally funded with local match contributions; phase 2, the river bridge, is fully federally funded for design and construction.

Council preview: Josh emphasized the budget recordkeeping and the difference between the state’s revenue-neutral rate calculation and the council’s actual budget choices. He said the council had published a notice showing a potential 4-mill increase to preserve the council’s option to adjust downward at the hearing.

Votes at a glance: the council took several routine actions during the Aug. 18 meeting. Minutes from the Aug. 4 meeting were approved; Appropriation Ordinance No. 8 dated Aug. 13, 2025, was approved; Resolution No. 2025-13 finding a nuisance at 670 East Frisco Street and ordering abatement within 10 days (referencing KSA 12-16-17(e)) was approved; Resolution No. 2025-15 requesting the State Director of Accounts and Reports waive certain requirements for the city's 2025 financial statements (referencing KSA 75-11-20(a) as stated in the meeting) was approved; and Resolution No. 2025-16 authorizing the use of cemetery endowment funds to purchase a columbarium for Elmwood Cemetery in the amount of $12,458 was approved.

What’s next: the council’s Sept. 2 budget hearing will include discussion of the proposed mill levy change and the formal budget adoption. Josh said he expected significant public attendance and asked council members to be prepared to hear public comment.

Attribution: all substantive project and budget updates were delivered by City Manager Josh during the Aug. 18 meeting; council members asked clarifying questions but did not propose a formal amendment during the meeting.

Ending: The council set the Sept. 2 budget hearing for final consideration of the levy and budget; council members and the public will have the opportunity to comment and adjust the proposal at that meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","August 18, 2025 City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","City Manager Josh told the Augusta City Council on Aug. 18 that the city will hold its 2026 budget hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 2, and previewed major projects and a proposed 4-mill property-tax increase to fund four public-safety officers.","taxTitle","Augusta, Butler County, Kansas","taxId",63639,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6504533,"Rural Water District No. 5 outlines plan for north–south service line to supply Augusta Airport and Rose Hill wastewater plant",116,262000,378000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5598201-17ca6b1e18da785fafefc258627a8e99&start=262&end=378","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5598201-17ca6b1e18da785fafefc258627a8e99/thumbnail_262000.jpg","/articles/6504533/Augusta/Butler-County/Kansas/Rural-Water-District-No-5-outlines-plan-for-northsouth-service-line-to-supply-Augusta-Airport-and-Rose-Hill-wastewater-plant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6504533-7158afa2a58e0d790266b0efb4afd91f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773555571&Signature=f~7tFD-RqHq8ztnMOdA6x73PSMQlgMD6Qhqk1XiujbRjtvfQkRORx3fF2Vd-k98rUYOnIuTvR2TaNFOfyutFr9~n3txb3FiwQpo2~B0vPl~APvFlE4uNNHuN2X0TLlk0q5XwYfnv4QvrNG8nta4KYYytwJ~~cPBb14wDHDUuBGZJSaxYBip8KEP566PydxnHOh6~-Nk0QAoJ1RJsxBSn-Yn8ioGTIX-7-zE7gv3My4kf0qa2YyKkSxQlR6~FvhsQL2ZnwOVQ4nnyDf4arAtCdzwPZ3NOzq6fLA-5GUAWHCofxWzsyW-1pU-C~Ty0K3YiwK1khwMYsEXGxw6yxQLCSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ken Coffin, vice chair of Rural Water District No. 5, addressed the Augusta City Council on Aug. 18 to announce plans for a north–south service line that would run along the west side of Augusta Airport and provide new capacity, fire hydrants and a connection to the Rose Hill wastewater treatment plant.

Coffin said the district has been coordinating with city staff and engineers, and that the district received revised drawings from Schwab Eaton (the district’s engineer) that were submitted to the city’s engineers at Holson. Coffin said he expects a response from city engineers soon and that the districts hope to start installing pipe this fall.

What’s proposed: Coffin and city staff described replacing the airport’s existing 4-inch main with a new 12-inch main that would link to the district’s transmission main. The larger main would increase capacity to the airport, allow for fire hydrant installation for fire protection and support potential future hangar development that could trigger building-code suppression requirements.

Engineering issues: Coffin and city staff said the design required revisions after field measurements showed conflicts with existing infrastructure; as a result, parts of the route will be open-trenched rather than bored. Coffin said easement agreements are under negotiation and that the project carries time pressure to begin pipe installation this fall to support the Rose Hill treatment plant and airport needs.

Attribution: Ken Coffin, vice chair of Rural Water District No. 5, spoke to the council and publicly stated the timing and engineering details. City staff confirmed revised drawings are under review by the city’s engineers; staff noted the change from boring to open-trench in one segment and said they expect comments from Holson Engineering shortly.

Next steps: The district and city will continue engineering review and finalize easements; if the city’s engineers sign off, crews could begin trenching and pipe installation this fall. Coffin asked the council to note the timeline because the work affects the airport’s fire-protection capability and the Rose Hill wastewater plant connection.

Ending: No formal council action was taken at the Aug. 18 meeting on the rural water line; the presentation was recorded as a visitor comment and will return to staff-level coordination and permitting.","Ken Coffin, vice chair of Rural Water District No. 5, told the council the district and city engineers are finalizing revised drawings to install a new 12-inch main along the west side of Augusta Airport this fall to provide water for the airport, fire hydrants and the Rose Hill wastewater treatment plant.","actionData","errors"]

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Augusta previews Sept. 2 budget hearing, flags 4-mill proposal for four public-safety officers and several infrastructure updates

Rural Water District No. 5 outlines plan for north–south service line to supply Augusta Airport and Rose Hill wastewater plant