Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the State Funding Formula topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sedgwick County officials warn proposed state corrections funding formula could slash local services
Summary
County staff said a proposed state corrections funding formula could reduce Sedgwick County's allocations by about 50% over a three‑year transition, forcing cuts to behavioral‑health programs and adult residential services and prompting calls for immediate lobbying and a possible press conference.
Commissioners closed the meeting with an urgent briefing on a state‑level funding proposal that county staff said could sharply reduce local corrections funding.
Steve Stonehouse told the commission the current year will start with flat funding but a proposal would lead to "approximately a 50% cut starting next year" that the county would need to absorb over three years. He said the change could cut roughly $2.5 million to $3 million in adult services and eliminate behavioral‑health funding paid as enhancement for in‑house substance‑use and mental‑health treatment.
Staff described the likely operational impacts: cutting about 21 staff, possible closure of the adult residential facility and the loss of programs that keep people in the community rather than in prison or jail. Staff estimated roughly 400 people annually could be affected by reductions in adult residential and reentry programming.
Commissioners urged a political response: they reported the county lobbyist is already engaged with the governor's office and discussed staging a press conference or legislative outreach to halt or delay the proposed changes. The commission asked staff to continue coordinating with lobbyists and to consider public action should private negotiations with state officials not produce timely relief.
