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County treasurer reports record interest; administrator flags state bills and BESS timeline
Summary
Saline County Treasurer reported higher interest earnings for 2024 and several years of strong returns; the county administrator warned the commission about possible late-session state actions affecting local property tax authority and said battery energy storage regulations will likely return for county consideration in late March or April.
Saline County’s treasurer reported stronger-than-usual interest earnings and other favorable revenue items on Feb. 4, while the county administrator outlined state legislative items the county is monitoring and gave a timeline for battery energy storage regulation review.
Treasurer Jim DuBois told commissioners the county’s earnings in the fourth quarter were $458,640 and that over the last two years the county exceeded $2 million in interest-bearing balances, producing substantial interest income. "Over the last 2 years, where we exceeded the $2,000,000 mark, for 2023 and 2024, we made $4,744,902 off of interest," DuBois said, and he described the increase as a record in his reporting.
County Administrator Philip Smith Haines said overall 2024 revenues were positive, helped by record sales-tax income and some one-time receipts to the Sheriff’s Office. On expenditures he cautioned that while the county remained within budget overall, spending was tighter than in prior years and department heads should be mindful when preparing the 2026 budget. He said utility and operational costs for the new jail facilities contributed to spending pressures in 2024.
On the state legislative front, Smith Haines said he is watching bills on open-records changes, extraterritorial planning authority around cities and health orders. He cautioned that property-tax discussions in Topeka have so far focused on state-controlled mills but warned that if the House and Senate fail to reach agreement the legislature might pursue measures that affect local governments late in the session.
Battery storage timeline: Smith Haines also updated commissioners on county energy regulation timing, saying battery energy storage system (BESS) regulations the planning staff has drafted will not appear on the next meeting’s agenda and are likely to return in late March or April for formal action.
Ending: Commissioners acknowledged the favorable revenue news and asked staff to continue close budget monitoring; the county will return proposed BESS rules to the commission after further staff and city coordination.
