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Finney County economic development group cites valuation gains, asks county for $325,000
Summary
The Finney County Economic Development Corporation told commissioners that real‑property valuation rose from about $247 million in 2011 to $535 million in 2025 and asked Finney County for $325,000 toward its 2027 budget, arguing the county’s investment helped leverage state and federal projects.
The Finney County Economic Development Corporation told the county commission that its local approach to recruitment and business support has coincided with substantial property‑valuation gains and asked the county for a modest funding increase in its 2027 budget.
FCEDC’s presenter said real‑property valuation in the county rose from roughly $247 million in 2011 to about $535 million in 2025 and that, using the group’s attributable‑growth methodology, roughly 64% of that increase is linked to local economic‑development activity. The presenter also reported a total county investment of roughly $5.8 million in economic development from 2011–2025 and cited a computed return‑on‑investment figure derived from attributable valuation growth.
"So when we look at that real property valuation ... Fast forward to 2025, and that is now $535,000,000," the FCEDC president said, noting the organization also leverages state and federal dollars for projects such as airport improvements and a water recharge project. The presenter characterized the requested county share as necessary to sustain staff and recruitment efforts and listed the multi‑jurisdiction ask as $325,000 from Finney County, $320,000 from the City of Garden City, $40,000 from Holcomb and $30,000 from Garden City Community College.
Commissioners pressed for more detail on the methodology and comparators used in the ROI calculation; the presenter said the analysis compares Finney County with peer communities (Dodge City, Liberal, Great Bend for cities; Ford, Seward, Barton for counties) and excludes state and federal grant dollars from the ROI calculation.
The commission did not vote on the request at the session; staff and the budget committee will consider the FCEDC request alongside other agency asks during the county’s 2027 appropriation process.
