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Atchison USD 377 presents sports-complex needs as public asks about quarter‑cent sales tax
Summary
School district and community speakers updated commissioners on maintenance and capital needs at Atchison Sports Complex and asked for clarity on how the quarter‑cent sales tax funds are being used and whether the county will continue funding after the tax sunsets in 2027.
Public comment and a formal update from USD 377 maintenance staff focused on maintenance and capital work at the Atchison Sports Complex and on how revenue from a quarter‑cent sales tax is being planned and spent.
At the start of the meeting, community member Vesser of 13354 240 Second Road in Cummings asked the board for “clear direction and some numbers” on the quarter‑cent sales tax that has funded improvements to county ball fields and requested an opportunity to meet with the school board. Vesser said he was attending “to observe and to give some insight as a community member,” and that he would like the county to be involved in decisions about the Atchison facility rather than transfer ownership without public discussion.
Ernie Bautista, maintenance for Unified School District (USD) 377, presented a list of maintenance and capital items the district and user groups say are needed at the complex. Bautista told commissioners that the district had submitted an itemized list after the board’s December 2022 allocation of $400,000 for the Atchison complex and $100,000 for Effingham. He described repeated repairs and recurring costs: replacement of porcelain fixtures in restrooms, periodic replacement of red shale infields (about $20,000 roughly every three years), failing scoreboard control boxes, and wear to batting cages and benching caused in part by high wind at the site.
Bautista said the district also has addressed some work on its own—sealing asphalt paths, replacing infield shale and paying for repairs—but that larger projects such as resurfacing paths, adding storage close to the fields and replacing or upgrading electrical and lighting systems will require additional funds. He said the district obtained an automated camera system and Wi‑Fi to livestream games through a grant, and that some repairs remain contested with the utility company after a transformer failure damaged pathway lighting.
Finance director Mark Seltner told the board the quarter‑cent sales tax fund had an ending balance reported for 2024 of about $1.85 million and that the tax is scheduled to sunset in December 2027. Commissioners and school staff discussed prioritizing work that is durable and low‑maintenance so that ongoing upkeep after 2027 will be sustainable. Commissioner comments emphasized the need for clear public communication about where any sale or grant proceeds would be used and asked the district to provide a short spreadsheet showing both recent maintenance costs and an estimate of ongoing annual maintenance needs to help the commissioners plan.
Bautista said he would send a cleaned spreadsheet of requested items and costs to county staff. Commissioners indicated they would prioritize and consider requests in public meetings and asked the district to identify items that could be done now without delaying play for the season.
Ending: Commissioners asked staff to return refined cost and priority lists so the board can consider requests as part of ongoing budgeting and any remaining quarter‑cent funds before the tax sunset.
