Reno County leaders warn of state preemption, data-center debate and potential budget hits from SB 33

Commissioners used their reports to flag several topics that could affect Reno County’s planning and budget. Multiple commissioners said state legislative proposals are moving quickly and some measures could reduce local control over planning and conditional-use processes for data centers and battery-storage projects.

Commissioner Parks described recent committee hearings in Topeka and said county officials should communicate with state representatives about what local governments need. County staff gave an estimate that Senate Bill 33 could cost the county about $1.2 million and, according to a commissioner, that would represent a transfer of funds to municipalities and could force the county to raise the mill levy or cut services.

Commissioners discussed community concern and misinformation about where data centers or battery storage facilities might be sited, and noted that a moratorium on such development has been proposed by some residents—an action several commissioners said they oppose because it could freeze growth for years. Instead they discussed using conditional-use permits and careful local review to address siting and mitigation.

Separately, commissioners raised infrastructure costs tied to nitrate-remediation projects in some cities, noting multi-million-dollar capital needs and the long-term maintenance expenses associated with those projects.

The board encouraged residents to contact state legislators, pledged to study the budgetary implications and regulatory approaches, and reminded the public of a local public forum on data centers at the Stringer Fine Arts Center later the same day.