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Commissioners debate whether county should pay market rates for child psychiatrist
Summary
Commissioners questioned the $274,400 salary and whether county-funded hiring competes with private practice, while staff cited long vacancies and anecdotal higher market rates as justification.
Several commissioners pressed staff on how the $274,400 figure was set and whether hiring a physician through county employment competes unfairly with the private sector. One commissioner raised public-policy concerns about using taxpayer funds for what may be private-market competition and said they would support the hire reluctantly because of community need.
Commissioner Howe challenged the methodology and cited external salary references that showed lower Kansas averages, saying the county might be paying above market. “I guess I'll support this reluctantly, but I'm I'm bothered by the fact that we're in this position that we're in,” Howe said. Staff replied that vacancies had been lengthy — months or longer — and that anecdotal local hiring had at times required paying substantially higher compensation to fill positions.
Staff also noted the county’s clinical model includes wraparound services that can make county employment attractive to clinicians and said the county’s CCBHC certification allows enhanced billing that will help offset personnel costs. Commissioners did not ask for a delay; they voted to approve the agreement at the same meeting.
