Shawnee County commissioners review 2026 budget and CIP; district attorney warns staffing cuts would hurt prosecutions

At a Board of Shawnee County Commissioners work session Thursday, Aug. 7, commissioners reviewed the proposed 2026 budget and capital improvement plan, heard a warning from the county’s district attorney about staffing and prosecution capacity, and discussed a $36.5 million list of potential new debt largely for parks projects.

The discussion matters because commissioners must balance a proposed maximum mill levy and department wage requests against one-time costs and capital needs. County financial staff told the board they can use reserves to cover an extra 27th pay period that occurs once every 11 years, but holding a flat mill levy would still require roughly $2.52 million in additional reductions or revenues.

Financial administrator Jennifer Sauer told the board the appraiser’s office could make a full 5% staffing adjustment, producing a savings the group applied to ledger totals. Commissioners referenced a $150,485 adjustment that reduces the gap toward the county’s published figures. Sauer said the maximum published mill levy figure on the screen was 49.326; she said staying at a flat levy of 48.326 would leave a shortfall of about $2,522,485.

Sauer and commissioners also discussed how the county will pay for the occasional 27th pay period. Sauer said the county plans to draw from reserves accumulated after 2024 to cover the single-year spike rather than increase the mill levy for a one-time payroll anomaly.

Wage and staffing pressures were a recurring theme. Commissioners noted cuts already made in several departments (including a 5% reduction in public works and a $1 million reduction in the sheriff’s budget) and said those reductions could affect roads, corrections and other services. Commissioners and staff also raised concerns that a new mental-health…