Riley County commissioners approve $5.15M budget transfer, transfer station rate increase to $72/ton
Riley County commissioners approved a $5.15 million transfer from the Capital Improvement Program to County General to fund the 2027 budget, splitting 2-1 at their July 13 meeting. The board also set revenue-neutral rate indications for several benefit districts and advanced a Peterson Ranch assessment hearing.
July 13: Budget transfer and revenue-neutral rates
Commissioners voted 2-1 to move $5.15 million from the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to County General for the 2027 budget. The same meeting produced a 2-1 vote to indicate a Revenue Neutral Rate for Riley County Rural Fire District #1.
The board approved Revenue Neutral Rate indications for four additional districts by 3-0 votes: Valleywood Operations Benefit District, University Park Water & Sewer District, Terra Heights Benefit District, and Carson Sewer Benefit District.
Other July 13 actions:
- Approved a U.S. Department of Justice FY 2026 BIDEN grant application (3-0).
- Approved Resolution No. 071326-29 for a Peterson Ranch Benefit District assessment hearing (3-0).
July 9: Payroll, CiCo Park alcohol sales, and grants
Commissioners approved payroll and accounts payable totaling $5,720,684.34 by a 3-0 vote. The board also approved Riley County Employee Action Forms (3-0) and the July 6 meeting minutes (3-0).
The board approved Resolution No. 070926-28 regarding alcohol sales in CiCo Park (3-0). Staff were authorized to contract with Purple Wave, Inc. for an internet-only surplus auction (3-0).
Grant acceptances approved 3-0 included the Immunization Action Plan (IAP) Grant award and the MCH Grant award. By consensus, the board agreed to allow the Flint Hills Events Complex working group to gauge community interest at the county fair.
July 6: Transfer station rate increase and project change order
Commissioners raised the Transfer Station rate to $72.00 per ton (3-0). The same meeting approved Change Order #4 for the Transfer Station Tipping Floor project, a reduction of $4,000.00 (3-0).
Additional July 6 approvals, all 3-0:
- Highway Use Permit for J&K Contracting to install a sanitary sewer trench.
- Plaza Reservation Request for Downtown Manhattan, Inc.
The board also approved minutes from its July 1 special meeting (2-0) and July 2 regular meeting (3-0).
July 16: Agenda only, minutes not yet published
The July 16 meeting agenda listed a resolution to establish the Department of Emergency Services, a Keats Sewer Benefit District Notice to Proceed, Highway Use Permit 2026-009, a University Park Improvement District appointment, and a 2027 Budget Work Session. Official minutes for this meeting have not yet been published, so no outcomes are reported here.
Coming up
The Board of County Commissioners meets July 20, 2026. The agenda includes review of July 16 meeting minutes, a staff update including EMS/Ambulance, a brief public notice from Alvin Perez (1-2 minutes), a primary election update from Susan Boller (2-3 minutes), and discussion of a law-enforcement agency meeting agenda packet.