The Atchison County Commission convened on September 21, 2025, to conduct a budget hearing, marking a significant step in the county's financial planning process. The meeting began with an invocation led by the chair, who emphasized the need for strong and compassionate leadership. Following the prayer, attendees stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

The chair clarified that the meeting was scheduled on a Sunday due to state statute requirements, which necessitated the budget hearing to occur by September 21. To prevent similar scheduling conflicts in the future, the finance director will outline the budget calendar at the beginning of each year.

The chair reminded attendees that the purpose of the budget hearing was to gather public comments on the budget as a whole, focusing on policy choices, service levels, and tax impacts. However, discussions regarding specific employees, their performance, or pay were deemed inappropriate and discouraged.

Following these introductory remarks, the finance director presented an update on the budget status, utilizing a PowerPoint presentation to share relevant information with both in-person attendees and those watching via Zoom. The finance director noted the importance of adhering to the timeline, highlighting that the hearing was scheduled to comply with the necessary publication and hearing deadlines before the October 1 deadline.

The meeting underscored the commission's commitment to transparency and public engagement in the budget process, setting the stage for further discussions and decisions regarding the county's financial future.