At a continued committee meeting on the FY2026 budget, Johnson County commissioners debated the county’s role in funding outside agencies — including Siri, the Enterprise Center, the fair board and other nonprofit partners — and voted to fund those outside agencies at the levels in the proposed budget while directing staff to arrange follow-up review sessions.

Commissioner Hanslick framed the debate as one of funding responsibility rather than program value: “the discussion yesterday and today isn't about the the, really, the value of either Siri or the enterprise center. It's about where who it should be funding it? Should it be the taxpayers of Johnson County?” That comment reflected multiple commissioners’ concerns about whether county taxpayers should be the primary or near-exclusive funder and whether outside agencies have diversified revenue and sufficient accountability.

Jeff Shackleford, representing the Enterprise Center, clarified one concern raised by commissioners about an angel-investing program: “That program still exists. The Mid America Angels network is still in existence, still being managed. We simply are not making new investments at this time,” he said, describing how the program currently supports portfolio companies and provides training in the region.

Commissioner Ashcraft urged stricter accountability for outside funding: “for years, the county has basically, written a check to these agencies with no accountability,” he said, and multiple commissioners said they want structured reviews, clearer outcome expectations and, where appropriate, third-party evaluations or staff-led processes to examine funding models. County staff and the county manager’s office were asked to develop a plan of action that would include commissioner input and variable levels of review depending on an agency’s size and the county’s role.

A motion by Commissioner Myers, seconded by Commissioner Fassett, to fund the outside agencies as included in the proposed budget and to schedule follow-up discussions and study sessions carried on a voice/roll call vote. The board indicated it would convene topic-specific study sessions and seek written budgets, multi-year plans and proposals for diversification of outside-agency revenue streams before making longer-term funding commitments.