County commission adopts 2027 budget in split vote

Harvey County receives clean 2025 financial audit

Local sales tax revenue sees slight increase in August

County attorney pleads for fifth staff position amid surging caseload

Commissioners approve return of Teen Court program

Sheriff's office reports record high cases in August

Jail faces overcrowding, severe staffing shortages

County approves new fingerprint machine for detention center lobby

County commission adopts 2027 budget in split vote

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — The Harvey County Board of Commissioners adopted the 2027 county budget in a 2-1 vote at its Sept. 8 meeting, approving a total spending authority of $38.2 million and a tax levy of $20.4 million. The estimated mill levy of 46.125 represents a 1.397-mill increase from the 2026 budget. A dissenting commissioner voted against the budget because it failed to fund a fifth county attorney position, arguing that the decision was a shortsighted financial move and noting that failing to properly support the justice system and intervene early in cases, such as children in need of care, will ultimately cost taxpayers more in the long run.

Harvey County receives clean 2025 financial audit

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — Independent auditor Randy Hofmeier from Lindburg Vogel Pierce Faris presented Harvey County with an unmodified, or clean, opinion on its 2025 financial audit. The county also underwent a single audit this year after surpassing the $1 million threshold in federal funding, primarily due to spending $605,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds for a hospital project. Auditors found no noncompliance issues with the federal funds, though they did note minor bank reconciliation discrepancies caused by how the county software processed tax refunds, which County Clerk Rick Piepho's office is actively correcting.

Local sales tax revenue sees slight increase in August

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — Harvey County's sales and use tax distributions saw a slight uptick in August, generating $570,143, an increase of $715 compared to the same period last year. The county's specific portion of that revenue remained relatively flat at $282,189, though year-to-date figures show an overall 3.89 percent increase compared to this time last year. Officials noted that a special 1-cent sales tax, originally passed by voters in 2006 for property tax relief, infrastructure and economic development, continues to bolster local revenue.

County attorney pleads for fifth staff position amid surging caseload

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — Harvey County Attorney Heather Figger addressed commissioners to advocate for adding a fifth attorney to her office, warning that the current staff of four cannot sustainably manage a workload that is on track to hit 2,000 referred cases this year. Figger noted her office has saved the county $196,000 in salary savings over two years and emphasized that a previously unfilled position was due to a statewide attorney shortage and noncompetitive pay, rather than a failure to recruit. She urged the board to realistically consider the community's expectations of the justice system and the unsustainable hours currently burdening her staff before denying the additional position.

Commissioners approve return of Teen Court program

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — For the first time since 2016, Harvey County will host a Teen Court program after the board of commissioners approved a request from District Magistrate Judge Joseph Uhlman to use the courthouse after hours. The program, slated to begin by January, allows teenage jurors to question juvenile offenders who have admitted guilt and hand down customized, nonpunitive consequences for minor crimes. Uhlman noted the program provides teenagers with insight into the legal process and offers juvenile defendants a chance to avoid permanent criminal records, with the board agreeing to review the program's progress in six months.

Sheriff's office reports record high cases in August

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — The Harvey County Sheriff's Office set a new record for case volume in August, pulling 284 cases to surpass its previous all-time high of 263 set in June. Sheriff Chad Gay reported that deputies also conducted 841 traffic stops, making 135 arrests and issuing 128 tickets during the month. The record numbers were achieved despite the department operating one deputy short following a recent resignation, though a new hire has been made and will soon begin the required 28 weeks of academy and field training.

Jail faces overcrowding, severe staffing shortages

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — The Harvey County Detention Center is struggling with maximum capacity populations and severe staffing shortages, forcing patrol deputies to cover early morning jail shifts. Sheriff Chad Gay reported that the jail recently hit its 125-inmate functional capacity — driven largely by what Gay characterized as recent state changes impacting bond holds for felony charges — while operating with five vacant staff positions. The staffing crunch resulted in 501 overtime hours for jail employees in August alone, prompting the sheriff to appeal to the public for job applicants as the county works to train new hires.

County approves new fingerprint machine for detention center lobby

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — The commission approved the $24,338 purchase of a DataWorks Plus electronic fingerprint machine for the Harvey County Detention Center lobby. The new equipment replaces an obsolete machine that forced staff to take fingerprints by hand for offender registrations, nursing licenses and teaching credentials. Upgrading the lobby system will also allow staff to process juvenile fingerprints without bringing them into the main booking area, which previously required time-consuming security measures like covering windows to prevent sight and sound contact with adult inmates.

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