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Atchison raises charter bond issuance limit to $1.5 million; ordinance adopted by voice vote
Summary
The city adopted Charter Ordinance 49 to exempt parts of KSA 13‑10‑24a for Atchison and raise the commission's bond issuance limit to $1.5 million; staff emphasized the ordinance sets a limit only — no bonds were issued at the meeting.
City staff recommended adoption of Charter Ordinance 49 to adjust the commission’s bond issuance limit to $1.5 million, citing inflation since an earlier ordinance set the limit at $750,000 in 2004.
"The only substantial change in Charter Ordinance 49 that staff recommends is an increase in that issuance limit up to 1,500,000," City Manager Mark Westhoff said, explaining that the ordinance would repeal charter ordinances 41 and 47 and would not itself issue any bonds. He added that any future bonds issued under the ordinance would require city attorney and bond counsel review and would return to the commission for final approval.
Commissioners questioned repayment timing and funding and discussed alternatives such as a possible sales tax. Westhoff explained that the length and interest on bonds depend on market conditions at the time of issuance and that bonds are typically paid from the city's debt service budget and property tax (mill levy). One commissioner suggested citizens might prefer a sales tax increase to avoid bonds; others noted tradeoffs between immediate repairs and long‑term funding.
Mayor called for a motion to adopt Charter Ordinance 49; a motion was made, seconded and the commission adopted the ordinance by voice vote. No roll‑call tally was recorded in the transcript at the meeting.
