HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council hopes to take the final few steps needed to put together the 2019 budget during a study session Thursday morning.

Thursday morning’s meeting will deal with stormwater, sewer and water fees. Last year, the city increased utility fees for the first time in several years and, at the time, placed incremental increases in the fees through the year 2022.

While the utility fee increases certainly got the attention of the public, the stormwater utility has received the most vocal objection. The effects of the fee hit the Kansas State Fair particularly hard, giving the fair a $50,000 yearly bill. Since then, the fair and the city have been working to come up with a solution to lessen some of that obligation.

Also Tuesday, the city will tie up some loose ends with the general fund and then get ready to set a public hearing for the final numbers sometime in August.

Thursday morning’s meeting begins at 8 a.m. in city hall.