The Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners on Dec. 15 approved a suite of contracts and allocations for 2026 covering social services, elderly programs and community organizations.

Jennifer Sauer, financial administrator, presented contract C5062025 allocating $1,059,951 to TARC Inc. for specified social services and said the amount matches the 2025 award. Sauer also presented 12 social-service fund contracts previously approved in the 2026 budget totaling $258,500, and 12 contracts for elderly-services programs totaling $773,764—also unchanged from 2025. Commissioners approved each item by unanimous votes.

Other specific approvals included a $40,000 contract (C4792025) with the Community Resources Council for specified social services, a $102,600 allocation for the Shawnee County Fair Association (C5042025; a 5% reduction from the fair's request), and a $151,806 contract (C5052025) with Helping Hands Humane Society for animal sheltering and dangerous-animal response. The board also approved a $20,000 allocation for Prevention & Resiliency Services (Safe Streets) for the Block Talks program; Haley Gill, interim executive director, described the program to commissioners.

Votes at a glance: each contract presented by the county's finance staff was approved 3–0. Several contracts were described as the same amounts as 2025; where agencies were not present, staff said the organizations had expressed appreciation and would be available for follow-up questions.

Why it matters: these allocations fund a range of county-contracted social services and community programs for 2026, including transportation and case services, elderly care programs and animal control functions. The approvals formalize budgeted amounts that county staff said were previously adopted in the 2026 budget.

What's next: The contracts will be executed as presented; commissioners did not add conditions or direct further study during the meeting.