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Saline County corrections director warns new state funding formula could cut roughly $292,000 over three years
Summary
Saline County’s community corrections director told commissioners the Department of Corrections’ new funding model (60% ADP, 40% other factors) will start FY 2027 and is projected to reduce Saline County’s community corrections funding by about $292,000 over three years, potentially forcing cuts to services such as Repath and a CKF liaison.
Saline County — The county’s community corrections director warned the Board of Commissioners Oct. 7 that a new state funding formula for community corrections, to take effect in fiscal 2027, could reduce Saline County’s funding and force cuts to local services.
The director (name not specified) said the Department of Corrections has finalized a funding model that allocates 60% of funds based on average daily population (ADP) and 40% on a mix of factors including crime index, poverty rate, population and turnover. “They are projecting that we will lose about $292,000 over the next three years,” the director said, according to the meeting transcript.
The director described local programs that are at risk if cuts occur: Repath, a client messaging and GPS tool used for high-risk supervision; an embedded recovery services liaison provided by CKF that offers on-site recovery coaching; and other client-support items (transportation assistance, vendor services used to access treatment). The director said approximately 400 adults are in the intensive supervision division (including 102 in the drug-court program), about 140 juveniles are served, and roughly 117 clients are in pretrial monitoring.
Commissioners asked how and where reductions would be made. The director said roughly 50% of certain services are paid from a behavioral health grant and that reductions would likely reduce non-staff services first, but conceded staffing and core supervision could be affected if cuts materialize. “I honestly won’t be able to afford that when the cuts come,” the director said of the CKF liaison arrangement.
The director noted Sedgwick County has publicly questioned the formula and written to Secretary Zamuda of the Kansas Department of Corrections; Saline County officials have met with department leadership but have not yet taken a formal county letter-writing action since the final model was released.
Why this matters: Saline County officials said community corrections exists to reduce incarceration and protect public safety; reductions in supportive services and supervision capacity could affect reoffending rates and community outcomes. The director asked for continued support from the commission as staff studies options and potential mitigations.
Next steps: The director said staff will continue information-sharing with county leadership and look for opportunities to pursue adjustments or advocacy with the Department of Corrections. No formal vote was taken.
