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County begins 2027 budget review; officials warn revenues falling and tough choices ahead
Summary
Shawnee County finance staff told commissioners the mailed revenue‑notice represents the maximum possible levy and stressed that county revenues will be down in 2027 due to expended ARPA funds and lower interest/sales tax growth; commissioners began a line‑by‑line review and adopted a series of targeted reductions.
The Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners began detailed work on the 2027 working budget on Aug. 6, hearing from financial administrator Jennifer Sauer that the mailed notice is a legally required "maximum" levy figure and not the commission's final intent. Sauer said the county's non‑property revenues are estimated at about $35 million next year, while total spending to run the county was roughly $155.7 million last year; the county remains heavily dependent on property taxes.
Sauer and commissioners described three central drivers of the budget gap: the expiration of coronavirus relief/ARPA funding, lower interest income and slower sales tax growth. Commissioners discussed the challenge of a requested $10–15 million increase in departmental asks and began trimming requests: they voted to reduce the Department of Corrections budget request by $400,000, cut general administrative expenses by $250,000, set contingency at $1,000,000, and approved a series of departmental funding levels as part of the working budget process. Sauer said the public hearing is scheduled for Sept. 4 and the final budget must be submitted by Oct. 1.
