by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — By a 5-1 vote, the Wellington City Council approved a city budget calling for a 2-mill increase the first of its kind in 11 years. The budget, set for 2014, was approved after 30 minutes of soul searching on the state of the economy, Wellington’s streets, and how this budget would affect its citizens.

In the end the council approved a 35.8 million budget at 51.492 mills, up from the 49.447 mills in 2013. The property tax increase will be $23.51 a year. If you own a $100,000 appraised valued home, you will pay $592.16 compared to $568.64 in 2013 or an extra $1.95 a month.

When Wellington city property tax owners go to the courthouse to pay their taxes in December, they should expect to see no difference in their overall bill compared to the year before (withstanding valuations). Sumner County is decreasing its mill levy rate 2.81 mills (county budget story to be featured soon). The Wellington school district is increasing it mill levy .9 and the city is increasing it by 2.04.

The primary reason for the city mill increase is street repair.

“I want to make this absolutely clear,” said Vince Wetta, Wellington city council member after the vote was taken. “This money is not going for studies or anything else. It is going for street repairs and that’s it.”

Wellington City Manager Gus Collins said, “That is absolutely 100 percent correct.”

When Collins presented the budget at the public hearing — attended by only reporters, staff and the council — the budget included two Kansas Department of Transportation grants which had already been won by the city of Wellington: improvement to the intersections at 8th and G and 16th and Woodlawn. These are called KLINK projects in which the state kicks in 80 percent and the city funds 20 percent. The city would be in charge of the design cost which is $75,000 for both.

Collins said the council could do one of three things.

1) Eliminate or delay the KLINK projects and drop the mill levy back to its current level;

2) Eliminate or delay the KLINK projects and instead use that money for general street repair;

3) Keep the KLINK projects and accept the budget as is.

From the onset, none of the council were too interested in keeping the KLINK projects opting to tell the state “thanks, but no thanks” — at least at this time.

But the debate over whether to add 2 mills for street repair was a different story.

Council member John Brand and Kelly Green were both vocally in favor of using the money for street repairs from the onset.

On the other side was Jim Valentine, who made an impassioned plea to keep mill levies at a constant level.

“Since when does higher become better,” Valentine asked rhetorically. “Wellington has seen a steady decrease in population over the last six years, a steady decrease in work force, people are losing their jobs. We are not moving forward as a business community… People are on fixed incomes. We have to take care of them. I talk to these people everyday. They are having a hard time coming up with the full amount to pay in taxes. I have a bad, bad feeling about this budget.”

Wetta said he was having “heartburn” about the budget.

“When I go out and talk to people, property taxes are always brought up,” Wetta said. “People aren’t happy. They are paying too much already. My son just moved up from Oklahoma to live in Wellington. He most certainly isn’t happy with the amount of taxes he is paying.”

Wetta suggested keeping the mill levy as is and go with a .25 percent sales tax that will be sunset with the hospital in December.

Collins said that would work, but it would need voter approval and it might take a year for money to filter in for street repairs.

Brand said Sumner Regional Medical Center is in sorry financial shape and needs that money. Even if the sales tax sunsets it would be difficult to transfer it to street repairs or help keep the hospital afloat.

Korte said she believes sales tax is fairest of taxes, but for the time being a two-mill increase is justified to repair streets.

The budget hearing was then closed. The council had to go through a couple of other items before returning for the vote.

It was then that council member B.J. Tracy spoke for the first time. He said historically he has not supported the budget and has voted against all of them but one time. But he was going to vote in favor of this one.

“Provided we don’t vote on the studies, I would be in favor of designating $75,000 for street repair… It won’t go too far, that is for sure, but it will help,” Tracy said. “I’ll go with either not increasing the mill levy or increasing the mill levy for street repair.”

Brand made the motion, removing the KLINK projects from the budget but designating the money toward street repairs. Korte seconded it.

Wetta then asked during discussion about the beleaguered Westborough streets and how much it costs to repair them on a yearly basis. Collins said $15,000 to $20,000 a year to fill in the potholes. To bring the streets up to code will be $1.2 million.

No other discussion was made.

The vote was taken. Brand, Green, Korte, Tracy and Wetta voted yes. Valentine voted no.

•••••

The following are the highlights of the 2014 budget:

General fund — 33.397 to 30.397 mills – increase of 3.00. This increase include a $96,997 increase for a 1.5 percent cost of living adjustment for full time employees, and a 1.5 merit pool increase of $96,997. The city still has a contingency fund for which it has $791,283 from the oil and gas lease revenue. $163,000 of that was used to fund the budget deficit in 2013.

Ambulance and firefighting — 2 mills – provides $88,300 for department with $5,305 going toward equipment leases out of the equipment reserve fund.

Library — 4.412 mills — $200,000 – an increase of $11,358.

Bonds and interest — 11.58 mills – a decrease of 1 mill. The city is still impacted by the lack of specials payments from “Settler’s Creek and Crestview Heights development additions. Construction costs at Vandenburgh, though, are less than projected.