Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Cultural Funding Historical Society topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Atchison County Historical Society asks commission for $10,000 in 2026 funding as membership and admissions rise
Summary
The county historical society presented its 2026 budget and requested $10,000 in county support to restore reserves, continue digitization of the collection and support operations; the society reported increased membership and volunteer hours but said the Kansas Sunflower program reduction will lower expected income.
Representatives of the Atchison County Historical Society presented a 2026 budget request at the May 13 Atchison County Commission meeting and asked commissioners to consider a $10,000 appropriation.
The presenter said the society has increased membership and changed its admission policy from voluntary donations to a required entry fee, improving gate receipts. The society reported more than 2,591 volunteer hours and roughly 9,000 volunteer miles logged in 2024, and said those in-kind contributions support operations and programming.
The society said it has delayed several planned technology investments this year — including completing an online, image-backed public catalog of the collection — and has been trying not to draw from an older endowment fund until the endowment is restored to prior levels. The presenter said the Kansas Sunflower summer program will operate for a shorter window this year, reducing anticipated revenue from that source.
The presenter described planned uses for county support: maintaining operating reserves, completing the collection inventory and continuing modest public access improvements. Commissioners did not vote on the request at the meeting; staff said they would include the request in the budget process and that commissioners could consider it during appropriation and budget hearings.
Ending: Commissioners encouraged the society to provide any additional information requested by finance staff and said the society’s proposal would be considered as part of the county’s 2026 budget process.
