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Deputy city manager presents 2027 draft budget emphasizing employee pay and benefits
Summary
Deputy City Manager Collin Bielser presented the City—s draft 2027 budget, highlighting a programmed 2% step increase and 2% COLA, an increase in the City—s per-employee health insurance contribution from $11,000 to $12,500, an estimated $500,000 rise in general fund operating expenditures, and a scheduled $2.2 million transfer to the CCR.
Collin Bielser, Deputy City Manager for the City of Hays, presented the proposed 2027 budget and said the plan—s central focus is "to take care of our employees." The draft includes a programmed 2% step increase and a 2% cost-of-living adjustment and recommends increasing the City—s health insurance contribution from $11,000 per employee to $12,500 per employee.
Bielser told commissioners total operating expenditures in the General Fund are estimated to be up about $500,000 in 2027; staff said 76% of that increase is due to the programmed step and COLA while the remaining 24% is largely attributable to inflation. The draft schedules a $2.2 million transfer to the CCR, which is about $600,000 less than the 2026 budget. Staff also noted the proposed 2027 budget exceeds the Revenue Neutral Rate, although the proposed levy is lower than the 2026 levy. A rate increase for the solid waste fund is programmed; staff said the fund—s last rate increase was implemented prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commissioners discussed the budget and thanked staff for preparing a conservative proposal; no formal adoption occurred during the work session.
