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Hutchinson council adopts Star Bond project plan to advance Cosmosphere, Memorial Hall and Landmark work
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Summary
On Jan. 20, 2026, Hutchinson City Council adopted an ordinance approving a Star Bond project plan that moves planned improvements at the Cosmosphere, Memorial Hall and the Landmark commercial portion into the next state-required step; council authorized staff to pursue development agreements and underwriting.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council voted unanimously on Jan. 20 to adopt an ordinance approving the Hutchinson Star Bond project plan, clearing a statutory step that allows the city to pursue revenue bonds tied to incremental sales-tax growth for three tourism-related projects.
City staff told the council the vote does not authorize spending or issue bonds immediately. "It does not approve funds tonight. It does not commit the city to spend any money," the city presenter said, describing the vote as a move "from concept into the next phase allowed under the Kansas Star Bond Act." The ordinance authorizes staff to continue to negotiation on a development agreement and to engage underwriters and bond counsel for future decisions.
The project plan covers improvements to the Cosmosphere, upgrades at Memorial Hall downtown and commercial work connected to the Landmark apartment project on 5th and Main. Council and bond counsel emphasized that Star Bonds use incremental sales-tax revenue within a defined district rather than raising the sales-tax rate. "The safeguard here is the underwriting process," Dominic of Gilmore & Bell told the council, describing underwriting firms’ role in sizing a bond issue and producing revenue studies to support repayment projections.
Members of the public and project partners spoke in favor of the plan. Rachel Woods, director of Stratica, said the earlier Stratica Star Bond was important to that project's success: "Without that star bond, Stratica probably would never have come to fruition," she said, describing an earlier roughly $10,000,000 Star Bond that was paid off ahead of schedule.
Council members asked about legislative risk and timing after staff said the Kansas Star Bond Act faces an expiration deadline at the end of June. Bond counsel said the city has options to preserve authority, including completing bond sale steps before a statutory deadline if necessary, but said additional legal analysis would guide the precise actions and timing.
The ordinance passed on a roll call with each member recorded as voting "Yes." Council members were told the next formal steps will include negotiation of a development agreement, an underwriting process, a sale resolution and a subsequent council vote after bonds are priced.
The council closed the public hearing before taking the ordinance vote. The study session on the budget was scheduled to follow the meeting.
