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Dickinson County raises juror pay to $25 per day for selected jurors starting 2026
Summary
The Dickinson County Commission voted to change jury pay under KSA 43-171 so jurors receive $10 for appearing and $25 per day once selected to serve, effective Jan. 1, 2026, the commission said during the meeting.
The Dickinson County Commission voted to change jury fees in a resolution that updates payments authorized under KSA 43-171.
District Court representative Cindy McDonald told the commission the county and the Eighth Judicial District counties were paying jurors less than many other jurisdictions in Kansas. She cited state statute KSA 43-171 to describe the allowable juror-fee range and asked the commission to raise payment levels that have not been revisited for nearly two decades.
Cindy McDonald said the current local practice pays $10 to jurors who appear the first day and a higher daily rate thereafter, and she proposed a change effective Jan. 1, 2026: maintain $10 for those who are called and appear that first day, and pay $25 per day to individuals who are selected to serve and for each subsequent day of service. "So it'd be $10 on everybody coming in, $25 once they're selected," McDonald said during the presentation.
County staff noted the jury-fee line item for Dickinson County was budgeted at about $27,000 in 2026 and is one of the larger single-line items on the budget. Officials said the increase is intended to better offset jurors' expenses and to align pay with neighboring and larger counties that generally pay higher daily juror fees.
Commissioners discussed the history of the county's jury-fee schedule and noted it had not been revised since a 2006 resolution that set $10 for the first day and $25 beginning on a later day for extended service. After discussion, the commission moved, seconded and approved a resolution pursuant to KSA 43-171 to raise the per-day fee for selected jurors; commissioners answered "aye" and the motion carried.
The resolution specifies the county will continue to pay round-trip mileage to jurors living outside Abilene city limits at the IRS rate adopted by the county (70¢ per mile). County staff said the change will take effect Jan. 1, 2026, and that budget adjustments will be accommodated within the general fund line item for jury fees.
Votes at a glance: The commission approved a resolution to amend jury pay under KSA 43-171; voice vote recorded as "aye," motion carried.
