Commission debates major reorganization to add county administrator

County faces 8.32 percent hike in employee health insurance costs

Commission signals flat expenses for upcoming budget cycle

Property valuations see near 6 percent increase for upcoming year

County tracking state bills that could cap property taxes

Pending legislation could force health department immigration checks

Election office may face new voter roll purge mandates

Fire department merger expected to maintain favorable insurance ratings

Emergency services developing active shooter training with local schools

"Mayfest" beer festival proposed for CiCo Park

Commission debates major reorganization to add county administrator

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — The Riley County Commission is moving forward with plans to create a new county administrator position, sparking significant discussion among department heads about future reporting structures. Emergency medical services director David Adams, representing a coalition of department heads, requested clarity on whether the new administrator would directly supervise departments or serve in an advisory capacity. The commission clarified that the new role would focus on day-to-day coordination and administrative services, but department heads would continue reporting directly to the elected board. Human resources will begin drafting a job description based on models from Finney, Douglas and Harvey counties, with a goal of incorporating the position into the upcoming budget.

County faces 8.32 percent hike in employee health insurance costs

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — Riley County is bracing for an 8.32 percent increase in employer health insurance costs for the upcoming plan year, a financial hit dictated by the State Employee Health Plan. Human resources director Elizabeth Ward reported that the county has absorbed a cumulative 40.82 percent increase in insurance premiums since 2020. While the county will begin paying the higher rates in July, employees will not see a corresponding percentage increase in their premium shares until January.

Commission signals flat expenses for upcoming budget cycle

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — As Riley County kicks off its upcoming budget calendar, the commission is directing department heads to keep expenses minimal and relatively flat. Budget and finance staff recommended maintaining a flat 1-mill cap for outside agency appropriations to tightly control spending. Despite the fiscal caution, the county is currently projecting a 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment for county employees.

Property valuations see near 6 percent increase for upcoming year

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — Riley County property owners will see a continued shift in the tax burden as overall assessed property values rise by a preliminary 5.94 percent for the upcoming year. According to the Riley County Appraiser's Office, commercial assessed values spiked by 7.66 percent, while residential properties saw a 6.15 percent increase, driven in part by new construction. Appraiser staff noted that residential and commercial owners continue to bear the heaviest tax burden in the county, accounting for more than 78 percent of the county's total assessed value.

County tracking state bills that could cap property taxes

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — County officials are closely monitoring several pieces of state legislation that could severely restrict local budget authority. County Counselor Jacob Hansen alerted the commission to House Bill 2745, which would cap property tax increases at 3 percent and introduce a protest petition procedure for voters. Additionally, the commission is tracking Senate Concurrent Resolution 1616, which would effectively cap assessed value growth to 3 percent above 2022 levels, a measure local appraisers warned would require immense staffing increases to manage.

Pending legislation could force health department immigration checks

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — The county is preparing for the potential passage of Kansas Senate Bill 254, which would prohibit undocumented immigrants from receiving state and local benefits. Hansen advised the commission that the bill ties local benefits to strict federal definitions. If enacted, the Riley County Health Department would be forced to implement new immigration screening systems to verify lawful presence before providing certain services.

Election office may face new voter roll purge mandates

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — A bill advancing through the Kansas Legislature could force the Riley County Election Office to adopt new annual reporting and voter roll purging procedures. Hansen flagged House Bill 2437 as a measure aimed at strictly cleaning state voter registrations, noting it is highly likely to pass. The commission plans to consult with the local election office to determine the administrative impact of the new mandates.

Fire department merger expected to maintain favorable insurance ratings

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — Riley County's insurance rating is expected to hold steady or improve following the recent merger of the Riley City Fire Department into the county system. Emergency services director Russel Stukey announced that early meetings with the Insurance Services Office indicate the county will maintain its current rating, which directly impacts property insurance rates for local businesses and homeowners. Stukey noted the merger may actually improve the rating within the city limits of Riley.

Emergency services developing active shooter training with local schools

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — Riley County Emergency Services is currently developing active shooter and violence response training in coordination with two local school districts. The specific districts were not named in order to protect the security of the training preparations. Emergency services director Russel Stukey reported that the department is working to set up tabletop exercises for the schools to prepare for critical incidents. Stukey also announced the county will host a public severe weather presentation led by the National Weather Service on March 24 at CiCo Park.

"Mayfest" beer festival proposed for CiCo Park

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — A new German-style "Mayfest" could bring a family-friendly beer festival to CiCo Park on May 16, pending a final resolution by the county. An event organizer, representing Manhattan Brewing Company and a local brewery, proposed the event, which would feature craft vendors, bounce houses and beer sales on the county fairgrounds. The specific event organizer and the second local brewery were not immediately identified. Because Riley County has a blanket prohibition on alcohol at the park, the commission directed Hansen to draft a special resolution lifting the restriction for the event.

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