Reno County commissioners spent extensive time reviewing two related housing initiatives: a draft countywide Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) that would rebate incremental property taxes for qualifying improvements and a separate home-buyer grant proposal that would provide $5,000 per new residential unit (up to a $150,000 program cap) administered through the Chamber of Commerce.

Staff described the NRP draft as a tiered rebate system designed to encourage reinvestment and new builds. Under the draft, residences valued under $250,000 could receive a 100% rebate for a limited period (five years in the draft), a phased rebate would apply for mid-range homes, and homes over $500,000 would not qualify. Commercial eligibility would require a minimum investment (for example, $25,000) and increase in valuation. Staff proposed a $100 inspection/application fee (deducted from rebates) to offset administrative costs borne by the appraiser, clerk and treasurer's offices.

Commissioners questioned whether agricultural properties should be excluded, with some arguing farmsteads that include residences should be eligible while others raised legal limitations tied to NRP statutory language and the program's focus on blight typically found in more populated areas. Mike Plank, the county appraiser, clarified that farmsteads (houses on agricultural property) could qualify if they meet the residential-improvement criteria but that certain agricultural structures (e.g., new barns) were not the intended target.

On the home-buyer incentive, staff proposed a $5,000 per-unit grant to buyers who are new to Reno County or who have not previously owned a home in the county; the program would be administered by the Chamber and capped at $150,000. Builders and a Chamber representative said the money could be stacked with other incentives and might help attract employees and professionals. Developers and several commissioners suggested clarifying whether duplex halves, manufactured homes and second-time buyers should be eligible and recommended clawback language if a recipient sells within a specified period.

After extended discussion about eligibility, fees and legal compliance, commissioners moved to table some NRP details to allow county counsel to review the agricultural-eligibility language and administrative fee approach and to rewrite the home-buyer incentive draft for a future meeting. A vote to approve the home-buyer incentive as drafted failed on a 2-2 split; subsequent motions to table/revise carried 4-0 where recorded.