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Bourbon County commissioners press for deeper budget cuts while leaving some departmental funding intact
Summary
Commissioners spent a marathon meeting narrowing the county's 2026 spending plan, debating cuts to IT, emergency preparedness and nonprofit contributions, and postponing a decision on surplus inmate-housing revenue until the sheriff can brief the board.
Bourbon County commissioners met for more than three hours Tuesday in Fort Scott to continue work trimming the county's 2026 budget toward a revenue-neutral levy, focusing debate on information-technology contracts, emergency-preparedness staffing and several outside agency contributions.
Commissioners and staff said they have reduced proposed spending from earlier drafts but still face roughly $100,000 to $190,000 in additional reductions or transfers to reach the commission's target. Commissioners and the county clerk repeatedly emphasized the need to preserve statutory obligations and leave core services intact while testing one-time and structural savings.
The meeting reviewed a long list of proposed cuts. Commissioners agreed they could safely reduce some IT costs by…
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