Saline County previews 2026 budget as departments request millions in new spending

SALINA, Kan. — Saline County commissioners reviewed departmental budget requests May 20 during a study session that highlighted several large one-time and recurring increases across county operations as staff begin work on the 2026 county budget.

County staff listed multiple large requests and projected increases: about $800,000 for the general courthouse fund (computer equipment, insurance and radio maintenance); roughly $500,000 in non‑salary expenses from the sheriff's office (with salary-related pressures producing a larger $1.35 million personnel increase figure when overtime and other pay items are included); a $1 million increase in the road and bridge budget (about $890,000 of that tied to the department's equipment improvement plan); a roughly $300,000 rise in EMS costs so the county can resume purchasing an ambulance under its agreement with the City of Salina; and a $350,000 increase in the health department's budget, of which about $300,000 is shown in the packet as a projected bond payment if the commission moves forward with a new building.

"These are what folks have asked for, what folks feel like they need," County staff member Phil said while introducing the packet, adding the numbers are requests and not the county administrator's recommendation. "This is not the county administrator's recommendation, which you'll get July 1."

Why it matters

Commissioners and department heads emphasized the numbers will affect the county's levy planning and could require tradeoffs among programs, capital needs and outside allocations. The county also noted recent changes to state law that alter the schedule for budget submission and any required public hearing if the county exceeds the revenue neutral rate.

Highlights from departmental presentations

Health department: Jason and Candice presented a largely steady operational request with two main exceptions: a roughly $50,000 operational increase and a placeholder of about $300,000 in the 2026 budget to reflect the first of two payments related to a potential $8 million bond and a lease repayment to the public building commission if the commission approves issuing debt for a new health department building. "We don't know the exact schedule. We don't know the exact dollar amount," Phil cautioned; the packet uses an illustrative debt service number so the commission can see potential impacts.

Grants that flow through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) remain crucial to the department's staffing. The health staff said roughly $1.2 million of their aid-to-local grants is tied to salaries and benefits and another $200,000–$230,000 to commodities, and warned that some grant funding is organized on a July-to-June grant year that may not align perfectly with the 2026 calendar-year budget.

Sheriff and jail: Sheriff Roger outlined multiple recurring shortfalls driven by overtime, utilities and medical costs at the county's new jail. He said the department is requesting a $55,000 increase in patrol overtime, $106,000 in corrections overtime, $19,000 more for uniforms and about $155,000 for inmate medical costs. The sheriff told commissioners that new staffing levels and training needs drive overtime even when positions are filled: "We're fully staffed to run the jail, but we're not overstaffed to cover all those other things," he said, citing training days, hospital watches and overnight transports.

Road and bridge: The county's road and bridge director described a roughly $1 million increase in the department budget, $890,000 of which is for equipment replacement under the department's equipment improvement plan. Commissioners discussed whether a 2% non‑salary cut could come from asphalt maintenance and considered tradeoffs around grading frequency, district boundaries and use of special highway or landfill-impact funds to smooth capital spending.

Emergency medical services (EMS): Staff said a roughly $300,000 increase is shown so the county can return to purchasing one ambulance a year under its agreement with the City of Salina. County staff explained that ARPA funding covered an additional new ambulance in 2024, allowing the county to skip a 2025 purchase; purchases are expected to resume in 2026.

Senior services and Meals on Wheels: Senior center director Rosie described a request for one part‑time receptionist/data-entry position and higher program costs driven by food‑service contracts. The packet notes the senior center has applied for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) through North Central Kansas planning to address building and parking‑lot needs; Rosie said the CDBG pre‑application for roofing and related facility work totals roughly $980,000. Commissioners pressed for detail about prior years' donations and grant accounting and noted the county has multiple separate grant and donation funds for senior services.

District Court and mediation: District Court staff asked for higher trial and legal services funding, including an increase in mediation funding. Todd said retired Judge Helmer provides much of the county's mediation work and proposed moving mediation dollars into the district court budget. "That's a hell of a lot cheaper to go to mediation than it is to go to trial," Todd said, arguing for expanded mediation resources as a cost‑saving alternative to protracted trials.

Information technology and capital plans: County IT staff identified a number of technology items coming off life cycles: a virtual server environment refresh (packet figures include a request in the low hundreds of thousands), replacements for in‑vehicle MDTs and aging desktop and monitor hardware, and network equipment that needs replacement because vendor support will end. Phil said some requests were deferred previously but are again approaching end‑of‑life and will need funding or grant support. "We don't know where that's gonna land," he said of some cybersecurity grant prospects tied to state/federal programs.

Capital requests and funding options

The packet enumerated EIP/TIP/CIP requests across departments: sheriff vehicle replacements (three vehicles, about $200,000 total), courtroom audio upgrades (about $100,000), emergency management trailer equipment ($9,050) and a replacement pickup ($~50,000), and senior-center projects that could be covered by CDBG if awarded. Phil noted the county has roughly $2.9 million in unallocated CIP funds in the draft and that some earmarked funds and potential grant awards could change the final picture.

Process and next steps

Commission staff repeatedly reminded the commission that the materials presented were departmental requests and not a final recommendation. Phil said the county administrator's recommended budget will come July 1. Under recent state changes, county budgets are now due to the county clerk by Oct. 1, and the state's revenue-neutral hearing timing has shifted, affecting how and when the commission will schedule public hearings if it exceeds the revenue neutral rate.

No formal votes were taken during the study session; the meeting served to gather information, let departments present their priorities and flag items that will require further review.

What commissioners said next

Several commissioners pressed department heads for alternatives, questioned long-term funding plans for equipment life cycles and asked staff to return with detailed cost/benefit information for large capital asks. One commissioner asked for a follow-up study session specifically to examine the health department's facility needs, a request other commissioners supported.

The commission will continue budget hearings in coming weeks, with formal recommendations and public hearings scheduled as required by law and as the administrator prepares the recommended budget.