Corrections officials warn KDOC application timing and funding changes will affect Riley County appropriations
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Summary
Unity Corrections staff briefed commissioners on KDOC application timing, requested county appropriations and county alcohol tax fund grant availability; staff said KDOC draft asks for roughly $187,300 in county appropriations (including a 2.7% COLA) and warned of compressed deadlines.
Unity Corrections officials told the Riley County Commission that changes to the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) application process and funding schedule have compressed deadlines and could require the county to set appropriations in close coordination with state submissions.
At the meeting Unity Corrections Director Megan Lewis said KDOC moved its application deadline earlier this year, which complicated the county’s budgeting and grant work. Lewis said the KDOC draft would request approximately $187,299.86 in county appropriations to cover a portion of personnel costs not paid by the state; that figure assumes a 2.7% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA). Officials said the county would reduce the requested appropriation if a COLA is not approved by commissioners.
Lewis also reminded the public that the county’s special alcohol (county alcohol tax) application is open through March 30, 2025 at 5 p.m.; as of Jan. 31 the available special alcohol funds balance was $17,736.71. Lewis said the Joint Corrections Advisory Board will review proposals and forward recommendations to the commission for final approval; historically, the funds support prevention and education programming for alcohol‑related issues.
County budget staff said they will present a combined request for Riley County appropriations to match KDOC submissions so commissioners can approve county funding at the same time the corrections application is filed. Budget Officer Britney Phillips told commissioners officials are working to reconcile state workbook format changes and other new KDOC requirements. Phillips said staff intend to present final appropriation numbers to the commission at a March meeting.
Lewis said Unity Corrections’ operational data for January showed 17 juvenile intakes and 33 active youth‑court participants in January, and that adult supervision averages remain steady. She said staff are coordinating with Clay County on shared services and that Clay County will contribute toward the county’s funding request where applicable.
Commissioners asked staff to return with final appropriation language and figures at a future meeting; Lewis asked commissioners to expect a staff presentation on March 10 tied to the KDOC submission schedule.
