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Shawnee County approves pay-range increases for Community Corrections; adds $98,121 to county budget
Summary
The board approved a reallocation of Community Corrections positions and added $98,121 in county funds to narrow pay disparities with comparable local employers. County staff said the change aims to reduce staff turnover and will take effect July 1.
TOPEKA — Shawnee County commissioners on Jan. 23 approved a reallocation of positions within Community Corrections that includes changes to pay ranges and adds $98,121 to the county budget for that department.
A Department of Corrections representative described a review comparing Community Corrections salaries with peer employers and said officers and staff were earning as much as $5 to $6 per hour less than courthouse staff doing similar work. The board voted 3-0 to approve the reallocation and funding plan; department staff said the remainder of the funding will come from existing grant dollars and county funds.
The county noted the pay changes will not take effect until July 1. The department said the increase is intended to make pay more competitive to reduce turnover that the county said was driven by employees leaving for jobs with lower caseloads and higher pay.
Why it matters: Community Corrections provides supervision and services for individuals under court supervision; pay and staffing changes can affect caseload continuity and local public-safety operations.
What the county provided: The department said $98,121 of additional county allocation was approved and that other costs will be absorbed by grants and existing funds. Commissioners recorded the action as a formal approval of the reallocation during the 2025 budget process.
