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Douglas County approves timeline to absorb Senior Resource Center into county government by Oct. 1, 2025
Summary
After months of discussion, the Douglas County Commission on Jan. 22 approved a timeline to transition the Senior Resource Center (SRC) into a Douglas County department by Oct. 1, 2025, directing staff to proceed with budget and operational planning.
The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners voted Jan. 22 to approve a timeline and transition plan for the Senior Resource Center (SRC) to become a department of Douglas County effective Oct. 1, 2025.
County staff and SRC leadership described the plan at the meeting. Jill Jolliker, assistant county administrator, said staff and SRC board members have worked together since November to develop the transition timeline and an implementation plan that covers human resources, finance, facilities and program continuity. SRC Executive Director Megan Poindexter said the SRC board voted in October to pursue the transition and is committed to moving forward.
The commission discussed service continuity, staffing and financial impacts. Commissioners asked whether SRC clients would see disruptions; Poindexter said the organization’s priority is maintaining rapid response capability and that county administrative support could reduce back‑office burdens that limit SRC staff time for direct services. She cited a recent example where SRC ramped up Medicare counseling during open enrollment to meet sudden demand.
Budget and personnel issues were a central focus. County staff told commissioners that SRC staff roles had been placed into county pay ranges under a recent McGrath compensation study and that moving SRC staff to county payroll will increase payroll and benefits costs because more employees will become benefit‑eligible and subject to county retirement (KPERS) and insurance rules. Brooke (county staff) said some SRC volunteers prefer to remain unpaid and that volunteer driver programs in Eudora and Baldwin will be retained in their current form where appropriate.
Commissioners noted $250,000 in the county’s 2025 estimates that staff said would cover transition costs in 2025; staff also said the county will prepare a 2026 budget that incorporates SRC as a department if the transition proceeds. The SRC’s building lease with the City of Lawrence is expected to be transferred to the county; staff said the city is amenable to transferring the lease and supporting continued colocated services with the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs and Project Lively (JAAA).
Public commenters and several commissioners expressed support. Commissioners also directed staff to continue coordination with SRC, prepare necessary budget adjustments for 2026, and proceed with facility, HR and benefits steps to onboard SRC staff. The motion to approve the proposed timeline passed by voice vote.
