Hays commission approves July financial statement; revenue mix shows small sales tax gains, investment balances reported

The Hays City Commission unanimously approved the July financial statement after Finance Director Kim Rupp presented revenue and expenditure summaries for the month ended July 31.

Rupp said July revenues totaled approximately $4,000,007 (transcript text includes numeric formatting inconsistencies), with year‑to‑date general fund sales tax trending up about $132,000 (2.4%) and month‑to‑date general fund sales tax at $901,007.93, an increase of roughly $60,800 (about 3⁄4 of a percent). Rupp highlighted categories with revenue gains — transient guest tax, economic development receivables tied to a CDBG reimbursement, building permits driven by Hadley Center renovations and two new apartment complexes, and water sales and conservation revenue — and categories with notable decreases, including airport improvement miscellaneous revenue (reimbursements for a Kansas Highway Patrol hangar the previous year) and gas tax timing differences.

On expenditures, Rupp reported July spending increased by about $605,000 versus the same period a year earlier, driven by capital project closeouts for the 30th Street project and higher insurance or health‑insurance billing in the current year. Rupp also provided an investment summary: U.S. Treasury par value for July at about $14,217,000 with a weighted average yield of about 4.2%; certificates of deposit totaling roughly $55,000,009.75 with a weighted average rate of about 4.29%; and a money market balance near $4,200,000.

Commissioner Musil moved to approve the financial statement; Commissioner Barrick seconded. The motion passed 5‑0. Commissioners asked follow‑up questions about the effect of a possible Federal Reserve rate slowdown on the city’s investments; Rupp said the city maintains short‑term limits on investments (about a 2‑year restriction) and that staff monitors opportunities to invest in treasuries when appropriate.

The approval recorded in the meeting minutes authorizes inclusion of the July financial statement in the city’s records and requires no additional immediate action beyond routine budget monitoring and reporting.