Riley County health director warns KDHE childcare licensing subsidy unsustainable; county to stop covering other counties by contract end

Riley County Health Director Diane Creek told commissioners on Aug. 11 that the county is subsidizing state childcare licensing services it provides for neighboring counties and that the shortfall is unsustainable.

Creek said Riley County has provided KDHE childcare licensing for Geary, Clay, Dickinson and Pottawatomie counties in addition to Riley County since 2016–2020 under a state arrangement meant to fund two additional staff. She told the commission that KDHE payments no longer cover the cost: Riley County is carrying a projected deficit of $133,346 for those outsourced licensing services.

Creek presented fee collections for the past year by county: Riley County $5,912, Geary $1,385, Clay $905, Dickinson $2,415 and Pottawatomie $3,265 (total $13,882). She said the department sent invoices and follow-ups; as of Aug. 11 only one of 63 invoices had been paid.

Creek said she sent letters to the four counties requesting supplemental funding and received responses that those counties expected KDHE to cover costs. She said KDHE told Riley County during a conference call on Aug. 11 that KDHE itself does not have funds to fully cover the shortfall and suggested contract or staffing alternatives that may be more expensive.

Creek told the board Riley County will not continue subsidizing childcare licensing for those four counties beyond the current contract term. The commission directed staff to plan for contracts that cover Riley County only after the current contract expires June 30, 2026, and to reevaluate the decision during the county’s budget cycle in February before making final changes or reapplication in March.

Creek said KDHE offered to consider hiring staff or contracting but that outsourcing from outside the region would likely increase costs because of travel and contracting overhead. Commissioners discussed timing, and Creek said the county will bill one more time by mail, make phone follow-ups and, if needed, submit unpaid invoices to debt-offset procedures.

Separately, Creek updated the board on the county’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) operations on Fort Riley. KDHE and the garrison had required a $5,000 license fee for use of hospital space on the installation; county staff negotiated with the garrison and plan to relocate WIC to Building 210 on Fort Riley’s lower level to avoid the license fee. Creek said the county expects no license charge while the current garrison commander remains in command, but there is no long-term guarantee. The department will move if information technology and facility preparations can be arranged; the target timeframe discussed was a December move.

Creek also asked for approval of out-of-state travel for two maternal-child-health employees to attend a national 0–3 conference in Baltimore; the commission approved travel using workforce development funds.

Commissioners directed staff to prepare budget and contract options, and to revisit childcare licensing during the county’s FY2026 budget cycle in February.