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Departments present 2027 budget previews; county treasurer warns May 11 tax deadline
Summary
Multiple department leaders outlined key elements of their 2027 budgets: legal expenses for county litigation, EMS personnel and revenue projections, fire insurance increases and a flat budget request from the fair board. The treasurer reminded residents that second‑half taxes are due May 11 (postmark).
Several Riley County departments presented 2027 budget previews during the May 4 meeting.
Jake Vance (speaker 6) outlined his department’s 2027 request and said the largest increase is for legal services related to ongoing litigation (the county has retained outside counsel for a case involving James Seymour). Vance said he-budgeted an increased legal services line to reflect possible litigation hours, while other line items remain flat.
Josh Gehring (speaker 15) presented the EMS budget request: $6,581,754 in personnel costs for 2027 (a projected $188,113 savings from 2026), $391,115 in nonpersonnel costs (a $52,500 decrease), and projected revenue of $1,822,500 (a projected decline). Gehring said consolidation of some positions and anticipated payer trends accounted for the changes.
Russell (speaker 14) summarized the fire budget and 9‑1‑1 funding: net increases driven primarily by insurance and personnel services (roughly a 2.6% personnel increase overall). He said E9‑1‑1 revenues largely support 9‑1‑1 services today but cautioned the fund could require ad valorem support within several years if revenues decline.
Daniel (speaker 9) spoke for the Riley County Fair Board and requested a flat budget to maintain fairgrounds operations and programming. Megan Lewis (speaker 13) presented Community Corrections’ funding sources—KDOC allocations, reinvestment and opioid funds—and said those streams support juvenile services and recovery court programs.
Treasurer Shiloh Hager (speaker 12) provided an administrative reminder: second‑half property taxes are due Monday, May 11 (postmarked by then); interest begins Tuesday, May 12. Hager listed in‑person payment hours, a courthouse drop‑box, online payment fees and the county payment phone number.
What happens next: Department heads will refine requests as the budget process continues and commissioners will review department budgets in upcoming study sessions.
