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County administrator outlines legislative developments affecting Saline County budgets, elections and economic grants
Summary
County Administrator Phil summarized outcomes from the state legislature including a 1.5-mill reduction for the state facilities fund, elimination of the three-day mail-ballot grace period starting January 2026, and several economic development and infrastructure appropriations that could affect local projects.
County Administrator Phil provided the Board of Commissioners with a legislative update on April 1, summarizing actions from the state legislature at first adjournment and the expected effects for Saline County.
Phil said property-tax reform did not advance this session except for a reduction of 1.5 mills for the state facilities fund, a change that could affect local budgets in fiscal 2026. He said the legislature eliminated the three-day grace period for mail-in ballots; beginning January 2026 a mail ballot must be in the county clerk's office on election day rather than accepted if postmarked on election day and returned within three days. Phil also said a fast-track permitting bill passed but is limited to residential construction, that bills limiting the timing of special elections were approved, and that proposals to change how battery energy storage systems are taxed did not pass.
On economic development and local projects, Phil outlined several budget items that had support in the legislature and were included in the draft state budget sent to the governor: reappropriations for maintenance and repair at Salina and Topeka airports, funding to support K-State Salina strategic partnerships and a UAS certification innovation grant, $1,000,000 for maintenance at the Kansas Highway Patrol training academy, authority and funding aimed at behavioral health inpatient support targeted to Salina Regional, and support for graduate medical education and rural residency programs.
Phil told commissioners these items could support local infrastructure and workforce development depending on the governor's final actions and that other proposals (including changes to BESS taxation and a treasurer's fee increase for motor vehicles) failed during the session. He emphasized that the session was a "mixed bag" for counties but that several local priorities received funding or authorization in the proposed budget.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about specific items and directed staff to follow up on local implementation matters where appropriate. Phil said staff will monitor the governor's actions during the veto session and report back on any changes that affect county planning or budgets.
