HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After a lot of meetings and many cuts, the Hutchinson City Council passed its budget for 2019 following a public hearing during Tuesday’s evening meeting.

The budget comes together after more than $4 million worth of cuts in order to keep a proper ending fund balance.

The cuts included the elimination of ten positions, including the end to the Assistant City Manager and Downtown Development position.

The budget, including Hutch Rec, totals $88,063,217 on taxes levied of $14,820,285. The mill levy will go from 47.7 to 47.8 mills. The budget calls for some major capital improvement projects, including a possible remodel of the Law Enforcement Center at a cost of $2.4 million.

It also calls for $750,000 for bleachers at Fun Valley, $992,000 for sewer projects and another $500,000 for street projects. It also calls for the next phase of the North Main reconstruction project from 13th to 5th Avenue.

Also Tuesday, the council approved bids for eight T-hangars at the Hutchinson Airport from Erect-A-Tube company at a cost of $155,945 and approved a request of a conditional use permit for a salvage yard located at 316 Spencer.