Hutchinson council approves putting 0.75% sales-tax question on March ballot to fund streets, parks and stormwater

The Hutchinson City Council voted Dec. 16 to place a proposed three‑quarters‑percent general retailer sales tax on the March 2026 ballot after a staff presentation that said the measure is intended to shore up the general fund and pay for streets, parks and stormwater work.

Angela Richard, the city’s director of finance, told the council the city had exhausted many budget cuts and still faces a roughly $3 million structural gap. She said the sales tax would be used for “streets, parks and recreation, and stormwater improvements,” and that if voters approve the tax the city would eliminate the stormwater utility fee from utility bills.

Richard also explained the timing and mechanics: the council must adopt an ordinance to place the question on the ballot and notify the county by Jan. 3 for a March election; sales‑tax collections would begin the quarter after the tax becomes effective, with the city expecting to see the first receipts roughly two months after collections begin.

Councilors debated whether the tax should be a limited 10‑year term or permanent, and whether the ballot language should include explicit references to property‑tax relief. Council member(s) asked about the cost of a stand‑alone special election and were told the city’s estimate for a March special election was about $43,000; adding the question to an August or November county election would be borne by the county.

Speakers at the public‑comment period voiced mixed reactions. Mark Buckley, a downtown business owner, thanked the council for street and park work that he said improved business, while resident William Colvin urged the council to show voters how the sales tax would offset recent property‑tax increases for some homeowners.

Vice Mayor Meggers moved to place the question on the March ballot and council recorded votes in favor. The approximate ballot language read in open session by the city attorney said the council seeks authorization to levy “an additional three‑fourths percent general retailer sales tax for the needs of the city including stormwater modifications mandated by federal regulation, park maintenance and repairs, street maintenance and repairs, capital improvement plan projects and other operations of the city of Hutchinson,” effective Oct. 1, 2026 and expiring Sept. 30, 2036 (language as read on Dec. 16).

Next steps: staff will finalize the ordinance and ballot language, notify Reno County as required by statute, and (if the ordinance is adopted as planned) the question will appear to voters in March 2026. If voters approve the measure, the city expects to vacate the stormwater utility fee and apply the sales‑tax revenue to operations and capital work identified in the ballot language.