Board member pushes for 'realistic' budget reforms

Director Peete aims for merit raises without tax hike

Reimbursements mask budget overages in prisoner care

Officials clarify tax structure for Pottawatomie County calls

Property crime hits five-year low; unlocked cars remain issue

Fake Patty's Day accounts for 70 percent of alcohol citations

Jail population drop allows return of female inmates

RCPD to host joint federal training and trafficking operations

Board member pushes for 'realistic' budget reforms

MANHATTAN, Kan. — New Law Board member Jim Morrison initiated a debate regarding the Riley County Police Department’s budgeting practices, calling for an end to using personnel vacancies as a "piggy bank" for other expenses. Morrison, a Manhattan city commissioner recently appointed to the board, argued that the current system lacks transparency because funds budgeted for unfilled positions are often used for unbudgeted equipment or overtime. He urged the department to adopt "truth in line item" accounting and to make the department’s emergency fund more visible to the public. Director Brian Peete acknowledged the concern, noting that previous boards had different directives, and agreed to move toward "fencing" personnel costs to reflect realistic spending.

Director Peete aims for merit raises without tax hike

MANHATTAN, Kan. — During discussions regarding the upcoming fiscal year budget, Director Brian Peete announced a strategic goal to fund employee merit increases without requesting an increase in the mill levy. Peete explained that rather than budgeting for 100 percent staffing — which often results in a surplus due to vacancies — the department plans to anticipate salary savings and apply those funds toward operational costs. He warned that this approach carries risk but aims to improve officer retention and quality of life while remaining fiscally responsible to taxpayers.

Reimbursements mask budget overages in prisoner care

MANHATTAN, Kan. — The 2025 financial report shows the department is technically over-expended by $328,000 on paper but holds a surplus of $508,000 once credits and reimbursements are applied. The disparity is largely driven by the "Prisoner Food and Care" line item, which is 150 percent over budget due to high costs but is offset by reimbursements from the Kansas Department of Corrections and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services. Finance Manager Jennifer Reifschneider noted that these reimbursements are not budgeted for in advance because they are not guaranteed.

Officials clarify tax structure for Pottawatomie County calls

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Deputy Director Erin Freidline presented a report clarifying the tax and service relationship between the Riley County Police Department and Pottawatomie County following public confusion. The report explained that commercial areas such as Walmart and the Short Stop are located within the Manhattan city limits, despite being in Pottawatomie County. Consequently, property taxes from these businesses contribute to the city’s 80 percent funding share of the RCPD, covering the police response to those locations without requiring a separate surcharge on Pottawatomie County residents.

Property crime hits five-year low; unlocked cars remain issue

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Riley County reported its lowest level of Part 1 property crime in five years, with only 66 incidents recorded in January. Maj. Brad Jager attributed the decline to the department’s Repeat Offender Program and the assistance of private security cameras in identifying suspects. However, Jager noted that vehicle burglaries have seen a slight increase, almost exclusively involving unlocked vehicles, and urged residents to lock their car doors to prevent "crimes of opportunity."

Fake Patty's Day accounts for 70 percent of alcohol citations

MANHATTAN, Kan. — A review of alcohol enforcement data presented by Capt. Scott Hajek revealed that over 70 percent of the department’s annual alcohol citations are issued during the three-day "Fake Patty's Day" weekend. The report, presented to the board to distinguish between event-driven violations and the city’s baseline environment, showed that outside of the event, the department issues relatively few citations in the Aggieville district. Director Brian Peete noted that the department’s shift to a squad-based policing system during the event is expected to save the department 60 percent to 70 percent in overtime costs compared to previous years.

Jail population drop allows return of female inmates

MANHATTAN, Kan. — The average daily population at the Riley County Jail has dropped to approximately 113 inmates, a significant decrease that has allowed the facility to bring all female inmates back from out-of-county housing. Maj. Mark French reported that the department converted a secondary pod to house the 22 female inmates locally, eliminating the daily costs associated with housing them in other jurisdictions. French noted that currently, only three individuals remain housed off-site due to specific non-contact orders.

RCPD to host joint federal training and trafficking operations

MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Riley County Police Department will host a two-week joint training exercise in March involving its SWAT team, Homeland Security Investigations and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Director Brian Peete highlighted this collaboration as evidence that federal partners view Riley County as a peer agency capable of handling critical infrastructure protection. Additionally, the department is working with the state attorney general’s office to launch new operations targeting human trafficking in the region.

Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below:

Contact Us