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Two court positions rolled into proposed budget; commissioners told one supplemental attorney request remains
Summary
County staff told commissioners that district court’s court navigator and eviction-diversion coordinator positions — previously partially grant-funded — were folded into the proposed 2027 budget, while one supplemental request remains for additional attorney time in the self-help center; staff said the change was achieved by reassigning budget savings and is not expected to raise the mill levy.
County staff told Douglas County commissioners during day two of budget hearings that two district court positions — a full-time court navigator and an eviction-diversion coordinator previously supported by expiring grant funding — have been incorporated into the proposed 2027 budget.
"They are included in Sarah's proposed budget to you," Katie (speaker 2) said in introducing the session of hearings with the county’s primary justice system partners. County staff said the two positions had earlier been partially funded by grants that were set to expire in 2026 and that internal budget adjustments and anticipated vacancies allowed the positions to be absorbed without a separate supplemental request.
Commissioners pressed staff about fiscal timing and revenue lines. One commissioner asked whether the district court runs on a July 1 fiscal year; a county staff member (speaker 5) confirmed the court’s fiscal year begins July 1 and that that timing would cover court staff salary cycles.
The commission also reviewed court-trustee fee accounting after noticing a $316,000 line in revenues despite narrative text describing fee eliminations. County staff said the narrative refers specifically to fees collected during child-support collections that are being eliminated, while other trustee fees remain. Staff reported they would revise the budget narrative and explained an adjustment to the budgeted trustee-fee rate — from $3.16 down to $2.75 per transaction — to reflect current practice.
Staff flagged one outstanding supplemental request from district court to add attorney time within the self-help center; the county indicated that would likely be provided through an outside provider (identified in discussion as Kansas Legal Services) and that commissioners may see questions about the contract and how additional attorney time would be delivered.
County administration said folding the two positions into the proposed budget is expected to be a one-time budgetary action and may not change the county’s mill levy. "To me, it would be a one-time expense," a county staff member (speaker 6) said when asked whether the supplemental payment would influence the mill levy.
The hearing moved on after commissioners and staff agreed to follow up with revised narrative language and clarifications about which specific trustee fees remain in the general fund.
