Finney County Commission Summary
Week of September 22, 2026
Commission delays vote on hotel tax incentive to draft formal policy
County approves three additional paid holidays for employees
Commission grants extra personal day for long-term employees
County shifts health insurance premiums to encourage higher deductibles
County to voice safety concerns over proposed Sunflower power line
New EMS and health department facility completed under budget
Commission delays vote on hotel tax incentive to draft formal policy
FINNEY COUNTY, Kan. - The Finney County Commission tabled a resolution that would have granted 100 percent of a proposed hotel's transient guest tax revenues back to developer Stone Creek Station Foundation for 20 years. The foundation requested the incentive for a planned $31.5 million Hilton-affiliated hotel at 3210 E. Kansas Ave., which includes surrounding retail and commercial development. Citing concerns about fairness to existing local hoteliers and the lack of a standardized tax incentive policy, the commission directed staff to develop a formal policy outlining when and how transient guest taxes can be used for economic development before voting on the request.
County approves three additional paid holidays for employees
FINNEY COUNTY, Kan. - Finney County employees will receive three additional paid holidays starting next year following a 2-1 vote by the Finney County Commission. The county will now observe Veterans Day, Juneteenth and Columbus Day as paid days off, bringing the total number of county holidays to 12. Commissioner Larry Jones championed the move to improve recruitment and retention and align with peer organizations. Commissioner Gerry Schultz cast the dissenting vote, expressing concern that the additional paid time off could burden taxpayers in light of recent salary increases and a high number of vacant county positions.
Commission grants extra personal day for long-term employees
FINNEY COUNTY, Kan. - In another 2-1 split vote, the Finney County Commission approved adding one personal leave day for county employees who reach four years of continuous service. The policy, which takes effect Oct. 1, 2026, aims to curb turnover, which human resources data shows typically peaks around an employee's fourth and fifth years. Commissioner Gerry Schultz opposed the measure, suggesting that the county should evaluate whether additional benefits will effectively solve a vacancy problem that has persisted despite significant compensation increases over the past three years.
County shifts health insurance premiums to encourage higher deductibles
FINNEY COUNTY, Kan. - The Finney County Commission unanimously approved the 2025 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas health insurance renewal, which includes a 1.4 percent increase in medical premiums and a 5.5 percent increase in dental. To incentivize employees to choose higher-deductible plans, the county will shift the premium increases entirely to the lowest-deductible $500 plan, while keeping employee contributions flat for the $3,500 deductible plan. The renewal also absorbs the $65 monthly cost of a clinically guided weight management program into the county's budget to boost employee wellness engagement.
County to voice safety concerns over proposed Sunflower power line
FINNEY COUNTY, Kan. - Following protests from rural residents during public comment, the Finney County Commission directed staff to formally submit safety concerns to the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) regarding Sunflower Electric Power Corp.'s proposed 345-kilovolt transmission line. Residents testified that the preferred route passes dangerously close to their homes and properties, potentially trapping them in emergencies if the high-tension lines fall or block roads. Finney County Administrator Derek Ramos will consult with Finney County Sheriff Steve Martinez, Garden City Fire Chief Jon Irsik and Finney County Emergency Management Director Paul Resley to draft a public safety assessment for the KCC before the public comment period closes next week.
New EMS and health department facility completed under budget
FINNEY COUNTY, Kan. - Hutton Construction announced the completion of the new Finney County Emergency Medical Services and Health Department facility, delivering the project two months ahead of schedule and an estimated $350,000 under budget. The $12.9 million project, funded largely by a quarter-cent sales tax, utilized local subcontractors for more than two-thirds of the labor hours. The early completion allowed the county to open the facility to the public ahead of the winter season and return $250,000 in unused construction contingency funds back to the county, which accounted for a large portion of the overall budget savings.
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