Harvey County presents proposed 2026 budget citing road costs, staff pay, jail revenue shortfall and courthouse remodel

County staff presented a recommended 2026 budget that the Board of Commissioners said would raise the county—s proposed mill levy to cover rising costs and new priorities, including road maintenance, personnel costs, jail revenue shortfalls, and a courthouse remodel.

Kevin, a county staff presenter, summarized drivers behind the proposed budget, saying rising construction costs and inflation make maintaining prior service levels more expensive. He illustrated that the per-mile cost to overlay asphalt rose from about $111,000 in 2021 to about $164,000 in 2023 for comparable overlay depths, and said the recommended 2026 budget includes 23 miles of overlay; staff estimated that change would add roughly $1.2 million in costs over two years.

The presentation listed other cost pressures: a projected increase in liability insurance of about 16 percent, medical-insurance costs rising about 15 percent, and a built-in county-staff pay increase of 5 percent (described by staff as 2.5 percent merit and 2.5 percent cost-of-living). Staff also said the county expects reduced revenue from housing federal inmates; the presentation referred to a reduction of roughly $440,000 in federal-inmate fee revenue and at another point cited a projected shortfall of about $320,000.

To address nighttime public-safety coverage across rural and small-city areas, the recommended budget would add four sheriff—s deputies. County staff put the annual cost for four deputies, including vehicles and equipment, at about $697,782; during public remarks the sheriff—s office and staff also presented an alternative framing that a 1.801-mill levy increase would fund four deputies and estimated the increase would cost about $42 a year for a $200,000 residential property and about $91 a year for a $200,000 commercial property.

Staff also proposed a courthouse remodel to create four full courtrooms after the Kansas judiciary added approximately 1.5 judges to the county—s caseload; the presentation said planned bond and interest payments for the remodel were budgeted at $477,548 annually. The presentation noted some county funds are reducing because those departments are closer to RNR levels, and staff listed reductions in Road and Bridge, Noxious Weeds, Elderly Services Fund and Extension Council fund millage in the proposed levy.

Commissioners repeatedly emphasized that the presentation represented a recommended budget and that the public hearing is for comment rather than a question-and-answer session. Commissioner Breimer said more information would follow and encouraged public feedback; Commissioner Scott and other commissioners thanked staff for trimming items and improving clarity of the slides. The board scheduled a work session to review comments and expected to take action on the budget the following week.

At the hearing several residents said they were concerned about property-tax increases and asked how property values and mill changes translate into individual bills; staff advised residents to contact the county appraiser—s office for appraisal questions. Residents who spoke varied in perspective: some urged restraint on tax increases because of household cost pressures, others supported added deputy positions and said they value the sheriff—s public-safety role. The county reiterated contact information and said commissioners and staff are available by email to discuss questions further.

The board closed the public-comment portion of the budget hearing after multiple speakers and scheduled a Thursday morning work session to consider comments and finalize budget decisions before a planned vote the following Tuesday.