Johnson County highlights department efficiencies and savings in proposed budget
Summary
Budget staff and the county manager detailed consolidations, software upgrades and financing strategies intended to hold costs and preserve services, including combining wireless networks, a self‑funded medical plan that saved about $1.1 million, wastewater financing savings and reallocation of a sheriff's vacant position to in‑house legal work.
Johnson County budget staff told the Board of County Commissioners the proposed 2026 budget includes a string of department‑level efficiencies that county leaders say helped preserve services without increasing property‑tax‑funded staffing.
Robin Symes, budget director, said the Department of Technology and Innovation consolidation simplified the county’s wireless networks and reduced duplicate equipment and maintenance. "We used to have 2 separate systems, 1 for public safety and 1 for the county, and they've actually combined that," Symes said, adding the consolidation increases capacity and reduces technology costs.
Symes also described smaller operational savings: corrections’ new transportation software saved an estimated $6,000 in fuel and 15,000 miles in its first six months; the county’s move to a fully self‑funded medical design produced about $1.1 million in premium savings on stop‑loss coverage; and wastewater financing produced large savings through a revolving loan fund and WIFIA debt that staff put at about $53 million and $80 million, respectively.
County staff emphasized that some savings are small dollar items that accumulate, and they plan to show more of those fiscal notes during department presentations. Penny Post Oak Ferguson, the county manager, said staff reallocated existing resources and vacant positions where possible to meet higher‑priority needs and avoid property‑tax‑funded headcount increases in the general fund.
The sheriff’s office reallocated a vacant position to the county legal department to handle sheriff operations and legal matters in‑house, a move staff said should reduce but not eliminate the need for outside counsel. Commissioners asked staff to provide dollar estimates for reallocation savings during department briefings.
Why it matters: staff said these efficiencies helped the county maintain service levels as demands rise, particularly in areas affected by an aging population and inflationary pressures. Commissioners urged staff to track and report the cumulative fiscal impact of such efficiencies to show how smaller savings contribute to the overall budget.
What’s next: department presentations beginning May 22 will provide additional detail on reallocations, savings assumptions and any ongoing costs tied to consolidated services.
