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Reno County approves incentives and project plans for Salt Lick golf resort, including 10‑year property tax abatement
Summary
Reno County commissioners unanimously approved a package of incentives for the Salt Lick destination golf development — including amended IRB authority carrying a 10‑year abatement of new property taxes, STAR bond project plans for three phases, and three phase‑specific CIDs — following a developer presentation and staff briefings on cost‑benefit analysis and financing mechanics.
Reno County commissioners on Wednesday unanimously approved a suite of financing measures and project plans to support the Salt Lick destination golf development east of Hutchinson.
The commission adopted Resolution 2026‑20 to amend and restate an earlier industrial revenue bond (IRB) intent resolution and add an ad valorem abatement provision that will exempt 100% of new incremental property valuation created by the project from county property taxes for 10 years. Bond counsel Kevin Cowan and staff told the commission the abatement applies only to incremental value; existing property tax receipts to the county remain unchanged. Cowan noted state law excludes the school district capital outlay levy from abatement.
The developer, represented by Bob Johnson of Salt Lick LLC and principals Jim and Brett Clausman, also presented a phased plan for the project on roughly 630 acres: a links‑style 18‑hole championship course and associated lodging and clubhouse in phase one (targeted for a 2027 course opening and clubhouse into 2028), a second 18 and nine‑hole course in phase two, and expanded lodging in phase three. Johnson said the financial model used the requested incentives to make the project viable and pointed to independent feasibility work and a Department of Commerce cost‑benefit analysis staff said had been prepared for the project.
After the presentation, commissioners opened and closed public hearings and adopted three STAR bond project plan resolutions (2026‑21, 2026‑22 and 2026‑23) covering Project Plans 1–3. The commission then adopted resolutions establishing community improvement districts (CIDs) for each phase (2026‑24, 2026‑25, 2026‑26). Staff explained CID sales taxes for each phase would be limited to the project area and implemented as each phase is completed; the county was told those CID sales taxes are 22‑year collections used to reimburse eligible development costs on a pay‑as‑you‑go basis and are not pledged to bond repayment in the same way as STAR bond proceeds.
Commissioners asked whether the commission retained discretion to set a lower abatement percentage. Staff replied that 100% abatement on new value had been the assumed structure used in prior modeling and notices, and that statutory processes (notice, public hearing, cost‑benefit analysis) had been followed. The commission voted unanimously on each resolution; roll calls recorded Commissioners Parks, Vincent, Winger, Bogner and Hurst voting yes.
What happens next: staff said the STAR bond and CID mechanics allow implementation of specific taxes and reimbursements as phases are constructed; the project team will continue technical coordination with county staff on final project documents and the timing of transient guest tax or STAR bond issuance as phases advance.
