Ellis County hears developer pitch for 15‑lot Hays subdivision tied to RHID reimbursement

A county staff member told the Ellis County Board of Commissioners that Rural Housing Incentive Districts, or RHIDs, allow jurisdictions to segregate tax increment revenue to reimburse eligible infrastructure and land acquisition costs for housing projects — potentially for up to 25 years — and described the state approval and public‑notice steps required.

The explanation came during a discussion about a proposed 15‑lot subdivision east of North Central Kansas Technical College in Hays. Adam Pray, a builder who said he has worked in that area and with Heartland Corporation on prior projects, told the commission the development would not move forward without an RHID: “If we get the RHID, this will work; if we don't, we won't be able to move forward,” he said.

County staff summarized the RHID process, saying it generally follows three steps: the governing body must find a local need for housing and submit that finding to the state Department of Commerce for approval; the county then prepares a project plan and…