Sedgwick officials warn KDOC funding formula would cut community corrections, threaten programs and jobs

Sedgwick County officials told Wichita leaders on Oct. 29 that a proposed Kansas Department of Corrections funding formula would reduce the county's community corrections allocation by about 38% over three years, imperiling treatment programs and prompting staff cuts.

"Our allocation is gonna be reduced 38% over 3 years, so roughly $700,000 a year," Sedgwick County Department of Corrections Director Steve Stonehouse said, adding the county receives just over $5 million from a roughly $30 million statewide pot. Laurie Gibbs, the county—s deputy director of adult programs, warned that "doing this work with 40% less budget will be nearly impossible."

The county offers residential supervision, drug and veterans treatment courts, a 178-bed residential center at 622 East Central, integrated substance‑use recovery specialists and three mental‑health ISOs funded with KDOC enhancement dollars. Gibbs said many clients arrive with severe addiction, untreated mental illness and housing instability and that the programs aim to replace criminogenic routines with employment and…