Kim Rupp, Director of Finance for the City of Hays, told the City Commission on Sept. 25 that revenues in August totaled about $3 million and were down roughly $1 million compared with the same period a year earlier.

Rupp said some categories offset that decline: federal ARPA reimbursements to the airport increased federal government aid and a good‑faith deposit on a recent bond boosted capital projects revenue. She also reported that water sales and conservation revenue rose about 31 percent (roughly $114,000), with conservation accounting for roughly $55,000 of that increase.

Rupp described several large year‑over‑year decreases tied to timing and one‑time reimbursements. “Miscellaneous revenue in the airport improvement fund fell about $1.09 million due to reimbursements on the Kansas Highway Patrol hangar a year ago,” she said. Rupp also said the city had not yet received federal fund exchange funding from KDOT for street maintenance projects, which reduced special highway government aid.

On expenditures, Rupp said August spending rose, driven by capital projects finishing and equipment purchases. “New equipment reserve was up $257,600 for the purchase of a three‑quarter‑ton pickup with snowplow and four grounds master mowers for parks and the sports complex,” she said, and noted increased street maintenance spending and finalization of several projects including an Eighth Street project and the Seventh Street roundabout.

Commissioners discussed sales tax trends and the variance between city and county collections. Rupp said September receipts (which mainly reflect July activity) were up about 3 percent and that year‑to‑date general fund sales tax was roughly flat to modestly up, within the budget’s conservative assumptions.

A motion to approve the August financial report passed on voice vote. The commission did not direct additional follow up beyond clarifying questions about specific line items at the meeting.