HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The committee behind the renovation of the Hutchinson Sports Arena will ask the council to approve 
its recommendation that the 62-year-old facility be renovated in an all-in-one project totaling more than $29 million.
No details have been released at this time, but a letter form City Manager John Deardoff states that the committee wants to make additions to the south side spectator area, add a new athletic addition, which would likely be another gymnasium, and an overall renovation of the facility. All of the firm details will be disclosed during Tuesday’s meeting. Such general renovation of the arena would address a lack of ADA needs, heating and air conditioning, old plumbing, too little storage, and a lack of hospitality and media facilities. The committee noted that the renovations are needed to make the arena more user friendly year round.
The committee will also recommend that the renovation be done all at once and not in phases and be funded with a special sales tax for a period of ten years. Since the city already has a special tax rate of .25 percent, the project would be limited to no more than a .75 percent sales tax increase, if approved by voters. The committee says that much of a tax increase wouldn’t be needed because, in addition to the sales tax, Hutchinson Community College has committed $500,000 in funds each year for the next ten years to help pay for the project. With that commitment from HCC, the committee feels a sales tax increase would only amount to about .35 percent. A referendum on the tax increase could come as early as the next April election.
The report will be given to the Council during Tuesday’s meeting starting at 9 a.m. at the city offices.