Atchison County commissioners move finance director under board and approve 2025 budget adjustment

Atchison County commissioners voted Dec. 10 to place the county’s finance director under the direct supervision of the Board of County Commissioners and approved a companion 2025 budget adjustment to create a separate finance department budget, effective Jan. 1.

Mark Zeltner, identified in the meeting packet as the county finance director, told the commission the change reflects how the position has evolved and would allow him to serve the organization more effectively. "I also have a budget adjustment for 2025. It would be not an increase, but moving from the county clerk's department to a new department, the finance department," Zeltner said, reading line items he proposed transferring into the new budget.

Zeltner outlined operating and training items that would move with the position: $200 for office supplies, $75 for Kansas finance officer association dues, $600 for training (including a budget workshop and association conferences) and $100 for grant training, for a total of $1,009.33 in non‑salary operating expenses. He also said salary and benefits costs for the finance director position would shift from the county clerk’s budget into the new finance department budget.

Commissioners discussed a written remote‑work agreement Zeltner proposed to reflect his largely remote work arrangement. Zeltner said he has performed the role remotely using Zoom, phone and email and asked to continue the existing arrangement with an agreement the board can modify or terminate if needed. "And so I would like to continue that remote work agreement," he said.

The commission moved and approved the personnel reorganization and the budget adjustment. The chair indicated the reorganization motion passed when moved and seconded; the 2025 budget adjustment vote was recorded in the transcript as passing 3 to 0. The chair and commissioners agreed any necessary personnel paperwork would be handled through a payroll status form and signed when processed.

The action creates an administrative reporting change and a separate set of budget lines for the finance director starting in the 2025 fiscal year. The commission did not record further detail about future staff changes or any immediate additional costs beyond the transferred salary/benefits and the $1,009.33 in operating expenses.

The commission recessed later in the meeting for a site visit to the county’s future Road & Bridge facility and returned to adjourn later in the day.