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Council approves multiple motions, votes to exceed revenue-neutral rate; budget vote tabled
Summary
Augusta City Council voted to exceed the revenue-neutral mill levy, approved several grant and procurement items, then voted to table final action on the 2026 budget pending an extra work session.
Augusta City Council voted on several formal items Sept. 1, including a resolution to exceed the revenue-neutral rate, approvals of grant and procurement actions, and a motion to table final approval of the 2026 budget to allow more council review.
The council’s votes set an immediate direction on tax and capital items while leaving the full 2026 budget unresolved. The council held a public hearing and then approved the resolution to exceed the revenue-neutral rate before later tabling the broader 2026 budget and related ordinance for further review.
The most consequential votes recorded in the meeting were:
- Resolution 2025-18 to exceed the revenue-neutral rate: motion approved (roll call: Burke — yes; Bailey — yes; Richardson — yes; Davis — yes; Brown — yes; Martin — no; Scott — no; Marr — no). The resolution authorizes publishing a proposed budget that exceeds the revenue-neutral mill levy. The formal motion text (as read at the meeting) was to approve resolution number 2025-18 to exceed the revenue-neutral rate. The council carried the motion.
- Motion to table the 2026 budget vote: motion carried. After public comment and council debate, the council voted to postpone final action on the 2026 budget and related ordinance, giving staff and council additional time to seek alternative cuts and to hold a special work session.
- Sourcewell contract for Brightspan salt storage building: approved. The council authorized using an existing Sourcewell contract and approved the Sourcewell proposal for a Brightspan salt/sand storage building at a maximum installation cost of $155,645 plus any applicable tariffs.
- Project programming request for the Kansas Department of Transportation CCLIP surface preservation program (2027): approved. Council authorized submittal of the project programming request for a mill-and-overlay and pavement patching project on US 54 (State Street) from the west city limits to Dearborn Street; total project cost was described as $1,330,000 with a local match of roughly $330,000.
- AWOS (automated weather observation system) grant acceptance: approved. Council authorized the city manager to sign a grant offer (95% FAA / 5% local match) for about $228,000 to relocate and reconstruct the AWOS at Augusta Municipal Airport, and authorized related land-acquisition agreements with adjoining property owners.
- Land-acquisition purchase agreements (airport AWOS relocation): approved. Council authorized purchase agreements for the tracts needed for the AWOS relocation (amounts discussed on the record were approximately $146,770 for one tract and $11,470 for another; a small leasehold payment of $100 was also referenced).
- Resolution 2025-19 supporting an application to the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation for housing investor tax credits for a proposed Tennoque Investments LLC development at David and Ohio streets: approved. The council voted to authorize staff to prepare and submit the city’s resolution of support for the developer’s application.
Councilmembers and staff said the tabling decision gives the council time to convene a special work session and consider cuts or phased approaches before finalizing the tax levy and budget appropriations.
Looking ahead, the council scheduled a work session on Sept. 11 to review potential cuts and said it may hold a special meeting to adopt the budget after that session.
