ALTAMONT — The Altamont City Council last week discussed a proposed sewer improvement project as well as the city’s 2026 budget.
Council members sought more information on the sewer project before making a decision on its scope and approved a budget featuring a 1.25 mill tax increase. A public hearing on the budget will be Aug. 28.
Austin Masters of Midwest Assistance Program and Joe McLiney of McLiney and Co. visited with the council about the sewer project.
The city of Altamont submitted a preapplication this spring for the Kansas Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund and its application ended up above the line, making the project priority list, meaning that if the city chose to apply for the money that it likely would receive it, Masters said.
In June, the council approved an ordinance for financing $750,000 in bonds for certain sewer system improvements. From the state revolving fund, the city could get up to $8 million for the sewer rehab project.
Masters said his role is to help move the city’s application forward for the revolving funds, if the city chooses to do so. He said the amount loaned doesn’t have to be the full $8 million. Applications for this funding are due in mid-October.
City Administrator LeaAnn Myers said infiltration and inflow needs to be addressed because it allows rain water to seep into the sanitary sewer system. She hoped the project could be scaled back to keep costs down.
Repayment plans would extend 20 to 40 years, with varying interest rates, Mc-Liney said. He said borrowing the full amount over 20 years could raise a customer’s bill $100 a month, adding that customers would not like that option. The council also discussed an option of using U.S. Department of Agriculture loans or grants for the project, which could lower the city’s repayment costs over the term of the note.
Mayor Richard Hayward said he wanted to wait to make a decision until receiving more information from the engineer on how the project could be scaled back.
Council members may get those estimates later this month.
The council also approved a budget that features a 1.25 mill increase in property taxes after cutting $20,000 from the proposed budget. The proposed budget would have increase the property tax 4.866 mills to 51.447 in Altamont and cause the owner of a $100,000 home to pay $55 more in property taxes in 2026 to support city operations. With the modifications, the proposed mill levy
See COUNCIL, Page 3.
would be 47.831 mills and the additional 1.25 mills would cost the same home owner another $14 in 2026.
Council member Kyle Wiford proposed making cuts totaling $20,000 to proposed fire and police department budgets as well as the pool budget. Police and fire would each lose $5,000 and the pool would lose $10,000. The cut from police would be from the vehicle reserve fund and from the commodities line item for the fire department.
The pool needs repairs as it loses about 11,000 gallons of water a day and a new pump filter.
Council member Lyle Sykes said the 1.25 mill increase was more in line with past increases from the city and would have less of an impact on taxpayers.
The council approved the reduce mill levy for 2026’s budget of $6.9 million.
A public hearing on the budget and the city’s notice that it would exceed the revenue neutral rate will be Aug. 28.
In other matters, the council: — Was introduced to new city clerk, Brian Orender, and to the new deputy city clerk and city treasurer, Dyllon Stafford.
— Agreed to start an endowed fund with the Parsons Area Community Foundation with $5,000. The fund will be called the Small Town Pride Fund for the City of Altamont. It will have two sub funds for parks and recreation projects and for city beautification.
