Geary County officials appoint three to 9-1-1 board after hearing funding shortfall

Geary County commissioners voted to fill two vacancies on the county’s 9-1-1 board and discussed options after a county financial analysis showed the 9-1-1 fund faces a steep shortfall.

The commission approved appointments for Sheriff Beckman, Mr. Burgess and John Moyer to the 9-1-1 board. The motion passed by voice vote after a motion and second; no individual mover or seconder was recorded in the meeting transcript.

Tammy Robinson, the county finance director, provided a historical analysis and told the commission the board’s average net results show an annual loss of about $113,000. She said reserves that cushioned the fund in recent years are nearly exhausted and warned that recurring contracts and debt service will leave the fund unable to operate in 2026 without changes. "You're starting in 2026 with $2,000," Robinson said, summarizing the projected balance after recurring payments are considered.

City Manager Kim Zimmerman and other local officials pushed for clearer governance and finance oversight for the dispatch enterprise. Zimmerman said the board functions independently but the county handles the financial transactions and public funds, and she urged that the county and cities clarify oversight and board membership.

Commissioners and city officials discussed options including: restructuring the board as an advisory body with local elected representatives, appointing a finance officer as a regular attendee to provide oversight, refinancing the existing variable-rate loan that funds part of the radio project, and seeking outside counsel and state funding opportunities. Meeting participants noted the outstanding debt from the radio project includes a variable-rate loan whose payments rose as interest rates climbed; Robinson said the loan started at 3.36% and was around 8.36% at the time of discussion.

In addition to the appointments, the board and local officials agreed to restart the 9-1-1 board meeting schedule, recruit two county appointees to fill vacancies, and investigate refinancing the loan and other structural changes. Commissioners discussed seeking counsel and looking at how other counties organize their 9-1-1 governance and funding. The county indicated it will share the financial materials with city leaders and pursue follow-up work to identify a sustainable governance and funding arrangement.

The commissioners’ appointment vote concluded the board’s immediate reconstitution; participants said further structural decisions and potential funding changes would be handled in future meetings.