[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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",6468005,"mediaKeyId","5782904-3e00a07d7ac78a897e4280740ebcc349","parentId",5782904,"title","Hutchinson Community Foundation launches second-year county survey, seeks 1,225 responses","audioSeconds",283,"startMs",379000,"endMs",662000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5782904-3e00a07d7ac78a897e4280740ebcc349&start=379&end=662","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5782904-3e00a07d7ac78a897e4280740ebcc349/thumbnail_379000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6468005/Reno-County/Kansas/Hutchinson-Community-Foundation-launches-second-year-county-survey-seeks-1225-responses","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6468005-97305dbb18f8fff84f1e66c218233237/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437749&Signature=f-LKtB7fVZ-FOYkYp5CbJ7cDR4UAVwJ-QTbvxsiDDEg8bo2Ly4jm6vZl4YvD5aiQ8stRShDIvDPmWEAey4a0hZTzZZ8eptACfhjaL-4JDPHwfIRWOGwA61Rx1I~tTd9U4oQph79pkJQ9eH5e5hpgDLzcYNBFlP-aK8pfeXwRwsmM~ofqJ1SgbnSDrIynZPxVm0TEu71xUqaSAzjWkZFT0CEaBMkjEIZYefYgQcjIYycd1l76tUNZ9VLtLVdUy2HaZ9PdKUikvVNctli91fg9Cm829q3NygoBgW-vEw~KnX1sVL8G9ojzcqOk6iyQl18bfz3Dme8Go0V27pPHJ5Cq8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Reno County Kansas","date","2025-09-11T01:11:53.197Z","article","Representatives of the Hutchinson Community Foundation asked the Reno County Commission to help publicize the second year of the foundation's \"Love Where You Live\" Community Empowerment Initiative and to encourage residents to complete a countywide survey by Oct. 17.

Carrie Mayer, director of strategy for the Hutchinson Community Foundation, and board member Randy Henderson told the commission the initiative centers resident voices with surveys, community benchmarking reports, workshops and grantmaking. The foundation said it needs at least 1,225 survey responses from Reno County residents this year to measure change from the first year.

Mayer said last year the foundation received 1,022 responses countywide; 205 respondents also attended community workshops and the foundation's fall workshops helped produce eight benchmarks that organizers say were met. The reports and workshop materials are available at renosurvey.com, Mayer said. She asked commissioners and county staff to help distribute paper surveys, which are available at city halls, libraries and some food pantries, and advised that Spanish-language copies are also available.

Mayer said the foundation had made a $50,000 grant to support the countywide economic-development strategic plan and that the foundation is launching a three-year housing initiative built on earlier ARPA-funded county investments. She said the foundation had $400,000 in pending grant requests for community and economic development projects and that awards will be announced at an Oct. 2 event.

Ending: The foundation asked commissioners to help spread the word to rural residents in particular and to partner organizations; the survey is open through Oct. 17 and can be completed at renosurvey.com or via paper forms distributed locally.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Reno County Board of County Commissioners 09.10.2025","oneSentenceSummary","Hutchinson Community Foundation asked Reno County residents to complete the second-year \"Love Where You Live\" survey to help guide local projects and grantmaking; paper and Spanish-language surveys are available through Oct. 17.","taxTitle","Reno County, Kansas","taxId",52856,"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},6468010,"Residents press county for details on ARPA-funded childcare \"Kids Collective\" and United Way oversight",348,871000,1219000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5782904-3e00a07d7ac78a897e4280740ebcc349&start=871&end=1219","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5782904-3e00a07d7ac78a897e4280740ebcc349/thumbnail_871000.jpg","/articles/6468010/Reno-County/Kansas/Residents-press-county-for-details-on-ARPA-funded-childcare-Kids-Collective-and-United-Way-oversight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6468010-911ccafae088619a31de991195f02be3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437749&Signature=BdT0Rgv8rb0kuROzh4D5hsQkDlsYTzP5Mq5WCff7ZrZfjWQjbdPX2GfCl~fMTLWJjnMhzsjY8beqFMx6yUwbu~CTdiwVsaJKK-WMkbq4kzOfufW4FLhQ-RXAV8K66HPNKkAeS8Qor7mRYov56-aHDJGZtmAZLw55q0xkUW5Mv~-2uk5U~d~WM4vQjJq6zSXR5Lk5Sq7K-iYo8CFOSrMPrz~DOp~pBVhbM8yuAsUkxY36IKj-cr8KxQgsqYqPWQhnSXnxQZ3RetBHbqMBDC9G0CdPI7xl7hEA6NmKFlxVsu2oh40W4iWiFhqsKk4guki0IhmLFNpqngGwGZgHbobqEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents and commissioners discussed the county\u0000s ARPA-funded childcare initiatives, focusing on the newly created Kids Collective and claims that United Way, which administers reimbursement requests, experienced cash-flow challenges.

During the meeting's public-comment period, Bart Koeman, who said he represented District 3, read a list of seven questions pulled from the ARPA packet about the Kids Collective and other \"innovative models.\" His questions asked whether Kids Collective fit the \"innovative models\" category, how $830,000 assigned to that bucket in 2023-24 had been used, whether audits compare budget to actuals, whether commissioners had reviewed the numbers, how success would be measured, what the 75% participation goal meant, and what time period the $367,000 upfront request for administration and staffing covered.

County staff answered that the commission has an agreement with United Way to help administer ARPA funds and that county staff and a dedicated accountant review reimbursement requests before payment. Staff noted the county reports quarterly to the U.S. Treasury and that expenditures are subject to federal and county audit. A county staff member acknowledged United Way faced cash-flow pressure because the county requires reimbursement rather than up-front payment, and said the agenda discussion had been aimed at resolving that timing issue.

Commissioners and staff said they were prepared to provide the detailed documentation and recommended bringing United Way and Kids Collective to a future meeting for a fuller briefing. \"We have all the documentation. We have all the expenses,\" a county official said; staff invited Koeman and others to schedule a follow-up meeting to review the invoices and performance metrics.

Context and next steps: Staff said $830,000 was assigned to the innovative-models bucket in 2023-24 and that the Kids Collective was organized in 2025; staff proposed scheduling a dedicated meeting with Kids Collective and United Way to present program metrics, timelines and reimbursement schedules. Commissioners also noted ARPA expenditures are constrained by federal rules and must be monitored for compliance.

No formal vote was taken on the item; commissioners directed staff to arrange a presentation and to provide the requested budget and audit documents to the inquiring resident and commission.","Public commenters sought metrics and financial clarity for a county-supported childcare initiative administered through United Way; staff said reimbursement procedures and federal audits provide oversight and recommended a future presentation by Kids Collective.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6468015,"Reno County adopts 2026 budget after heated public hearing on property taxes",9858,2114000,11972000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5782904-3e00a07d7ac78a897e4280740ebcc349&start=2114&end=11972","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5782904-3e00a07d7ac78a897e4280740ebcc349/thumbnail_2114000.jpg","/articles/6468015/Reno-County/Kansas/Reno-County-adopts-2026-budget-after-heated-public-hearing-on-property-taxes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6468015-7487b71d78bb2df1bceee43792ae1f64/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437749&Signature=H9gv1dxGm5T-9Hyv6ad6HDqlnKN245Ixasi0HeaWqcz2QblnrU0PEDXXohXNV7pWcLlGe1LEskvP~Gudqg20vkCNqtzmEt01LMywmbGDa6sJNSxymcQsAtNe4tNeLL-Npnu~zpr1l6vQozBLLrbZs-v6zdu9RxcKN5Zoc6vn~PVzYZfcBCzUT1m3OEdHVY6LM1fplzewW2TyMeQnqWOrrBD3BqqlMgiDBL4cKbKDIXlqC31~0Sd44TSuuiCIeb3H2QdtXkgZvv-IBFXMhaprj~ZAYvwlIZ0pMpIvveaHmpyGPJ2NMGRN-Gn45wawZFsq5oXh6nmH0dCaJD4vY2g6Kw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Reno County Commission adopted the county\u00002026 budget and voted to levy a property tax rate above the state-calculated revenue-neutral rate following a public hearing dominated by residents who said rising valuations and a proposed mill-levy increase are pricing them out of their homes.

Commissioners held the hearing as part of their regular meeting, heard more than a dozen public comments and then approved a resolution to exceed the revenue-neutral rate before formally adopting the budget and the special-district budgets that fund several local fire districts and sewer projects.

Nut graf: The budget vote comes after months of staff work and a series of study sessions. Commissioners said they reviewed departmental cuts but concluded that, because of inflation and service needs, modest additional revenue was necessary to maintain county operations and reserves; residents urged the commission to find alternatives.

Most speakers focused on property-tax pain and the county\u0000role in valuations. Several residents told the commission their property valuations have risen substantially in recent years even when they had not made improvements to their homes. William Colvin, who said he has lived at his address 35 years, told commissioners his property valuation rose 42% over several years while comparable nearby homes rose less, and he said the increase threatened his ability to remain in his home. \"I'm going to get hit pretty hard by taxes,\" Colvin said.

Others described similar strains. Joshua Haver said his property had increased 44% in five years and that a 26% mill-levy increase on top of that would make homeownership unaffordable for many younger families. Betty Bachman, who supports her 88-year-old mother, said her property-tax bill has nearly doubled since she moved and is now consuming several months of her Social Security income.

Commissioners and staff responded with explanations of how property values and tax rates are set. County Counselor Patrick Hoffman and County Administrator Randy Partington reiterated that the county does not set appraised values: the state appraisal process determines assessed values and the county sets a mill levy to meet budgeted expenditures. Partington noted the county must also meet federal reporting and audit requirements tied to some funding sources. \"Values are out of our hands,\" a commissioner said during the hearing. \"We have nothing to do with the values.\" (Statement paraphrased from remarks by county staff and commissioners in the hearing.)

Several residents urged state-level reforms to appraisal and property-tax law and asked the commission to press the county's legislative representatives. Commissioner comments acknowledged the complexity of the issue and noted that the county participates in the Kansas Association of Counties and holds annual meetings with state legislators to advocate for county priorities.

A second thread during the hearing concerned outside-agency funding, notably support for the Reno County Museum. Museum advocates, including Bronwyn Page and local historian Jim Potter, described the museum's holdings and programming, and warned that recent county budget cuts had reduced staffing and program capacity. Potter asked commissioners to restore funding so the museum could maintain and accept important artifacts and continue public programs.

Economic-development and workforce representatives also spoke. Deborah Tufel of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber and Lauren Storm of Greater Hutch Economic Development defended county investments in economic development, housing and workforce programs as long-term strategies to grow the tax base. \"Economic development is a team sport,\" Tufel said, adding that recent private-sector expansions and a large energy project under consideration would not have advanced without local economic-development efforts.

Formal actions and votes: The commission first voted on a resolution to levy a rate above the revenue-neutral rate. The record shows the resolution passed on a roll call: Commissioner Parks: yes; Commissioner Vincent: no; Commissioner Hurst: yes; Commissioner Bonker: yes (3-1). After additional discussion, the board moved to adopt the county\u00002026 budget as presented by staff; the motion passed on a roll call: Commissioner Parks: yes; Commissioner Vincent: no; Commissioner Hurst: yes; Commissioner Wenger: yes (3-1). The board also adopted the special-district budgets (fire districts and certain sewer/bond funds) as recommended.

Commissioners said they had asked departments for deep cuts prior to the hearing and that staff had further trimmed the recommended budget. County staff noted the adopted total budget authority includes several large funds that are not expected to be fully spent, and they said the adopted tax increase translates to roughly $26 per year for the county portion of taxes on a $100,000 home, a figure staff provided at the hearing to illustrate impact.

Ending: Commissioners said they will continue outreach to residents about valuation appeals and to state legislators about appraisal reform. They also told outside agencies and partners that additional presentations and documentation would be needed in subsequent budget cycles if funding is to be restored or increased.

Votes at a glance: Consent agenda approved (motion and roll call recorded earlier in the meeting); Resolution to exceed revenue-neutral rate — passed (3-1); County budget adopted as presented — passed (3-1); Special-district budgets adopted — passed (vote recorded as approved).","After more than two hours of public comment about rising property valuations and living costs, the Reno County Commission voted to adopt the county\u00002026 budget and to set a mill levy above the revenue-neutral rate.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Hutchinson Community Foundation launches second-year county survey, seeks 1,225 responses

Residents press county for details on ARPA-funded childcare "Kids Collective" and United Way oversight

Reno County adopts 2026 budget after heated public hearing on property taxes