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Sedgwick County CFO unveils $88.1 million tentative facilities and drainage CIP
Summary
County finance staff presented a tentative five-year facilities and drainage Capital Improvement Plan totaling about $88.1 million, with roughly $70.4 million proposed to be bond-funded and $18 million in cash; major items include a $5.8 million HVAC overhaul at the Ronald Reagan Building and a bond-funded 9-1-1 radio replacement planned for 2028.
County finance staff on Tuesday presented a tentative five-year Capital Improvement Plan for facilities and drainage that would spend roughly $88.1 million across the county, with about $70.4 million proposed to be funded with bonds and approximately $18 million in cash.
The presentation, led by the county’s chief financial officer (CFO), described the CIP as a starting point for commissioner discussion rather than a final recommendation. “I wanna emphasize at the very outset that this is a tentative recommended CIP,” the CFO said, urging commissioners to flag trouble spots early so staff can adjust planning and budgeting.
Key projects in the facilities and drainage portion include the county’s ongoing joint flood-control program with the City of Wichita (approximately $740,000 capital share over five years), recurring roof and parking-lot replacements, ongoing elevator modernizations, and a phased building-automation replacement that will include the jail, juvenile courthouse and other county facilities.
A high-cost item that drew questions was a proposed comprehensive mechanical systems replacement at the Ronald Reagan Building, estimated at about $5.8 million. Staff said much of the central mechanical equipment dates to the building’s original 1993 systems and cited a recent chiller failure that left interior temperatures in the 80s, prompting some departments to send staff home. A facilities staff member confirmed that one of the garage elevators is currently being modernized and should return to service within about a month.
Staff also described projects that are contingent on outside funding: replacement of two floating docks would proceed only if a grant from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is awarded (the county’s share is roughly 46 percent). The emergency preparedness center remains planned with design in 2027 and construction in 2028; staff said the county has stopped pursuing a DCIP grant that prioritizes military installations and will advance the project with bond funding instead.
On funding strategy, the CFO reiterated the county’s preference to “pay as you go” where possible but said some projects make economic sense to bond. She walked commissioners through an unrestricted fund-balance projection, reminded the board of a debt-policy update adopted in April 2025, and said staff expects the five-year program to be roughly $5.7 million more expensive than last year’s adopted CIP when debt-service and cash-funded projects are combined.
The CFO closed by asking commissioners for feedback and workshops to refine priorities; staff said the tentative CIP and related financial schedules will go to the advanced plans committee on June 11 before returning to the full board.
Ending: Staff requested direction from commissioners and scheduled follow-ups; no final funding decisions were made at the meeting.
