Salina – Week of July 8
Jail Demolition Approved; Mill Levy Increase Proposed; Expo Center Improvements Finalized; Childcare Funding Denied; City Manager Search
County Approves Jail Demolition in Contentious 3-2 Vote
County Administrator Proposes 1.459 Mill Levy Increase for 2026 Budget
Salina Finalizes $763,000 in Improvements for Expo Center
United Way Funding Request for Childcare Initiative Left Out of Proposed County Budget
City of Salina Narrows City Manager Search from 37 Applicants
Greg Loving
1. County Approves Jail Demolition in Contentious 3-2 Vote
SALINE COUNTY - The Saline County Commission voted 3-2 to award a contract for the demolition of the old jail, moving forward with the project despite a last-minute plea from citizens to postpone the decision. The contract, not to exceed $400,000, was awarded to Deal Enterprises of Salina, the highest-scoring bidder in a staff review. The vote was preceded by passionate public comment from residents, who asked for a 60 to 90-day delay to formulate a proposal to repurpose the building into a transitional resource center for individuals re-entering the community from jail or rehab. Commissioners who supported moving forward cited the lengthy three-year process already undertaken to decide the building's fate and the potential need for the site for a new health department. The dissenting commissioners expressed a desire to give the citizen group a chance to develop their alternative plan.
2. County Administrator Proposes 1.459 Mill Levy Increase for 2026 Budget
SALINE COUNTY - Saline County taxpayers may see a property tax increase next year, as County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes presented a recommended 2026 budget that includes a 1.459 mill levy hike. Describing the budget as "unpleasant," Smith-Hanes detailed a plan that attempts to balance rising costs, particularly in the Sheriff's Office, without making layoffs. The proposal does not fund any new county positions, despite several "justified" requests from department heads. To mitigate the tax increase, the administrator recommended transferring over $729,000 in savings from the jail demolition project back to the general fund and underfunding the contractual asphalt budget by $1 million, calling them short-term "gimmicks". The commission will have to cut an additional $1.85 million to avoid any tax increase.
3. Salina Finalizes $763,000 in Improvements for Expo Center
SALINE COUNTY - The Saline County Commission approved the final phase of required improvements for the Livestock and Expo Center, awarding a contract to Hutton for up to $763,244. This fifth and final phase addresses projects mandated by the county's lease agreement with the City of Salina, including new siding for Kenwood Hall and the 4-H building, and a roof replacement and brick work for Ag Hall. The expenditure sparked a discussion about the facility's finances, with the commission learning the Expo Center operates at an approximate loss of $400,000 annually, not including capital improvement costs. The improvements are required to be completed by the end of 2025.
4. United Way Funding Request for Childcare Initiative Left Out of Proposed County Budget
SALINE COUNTY - A request for $40,000 from the Salina Area United Way to support its Early Child Care Initiative Fund was not included in the County Administrator's recommended 2026 budget. Christina Small of the United Way made a "final battle cry" to the commission, explaining the funds are crucial for supplementing the wages of early childhood educators and preventing the loss of up to 591 childcare slots in the county. The initiative supports seven local childcare centers that are currently operating at an average annual loss of over $67,000 each. While commissioners acknowledged the critical need for childcare, the "unpleasant" budget reality led the administrator to recommend against funding the new request.
5. City of Salina Narrows City Manager Search from 37 Applicants
SALINA - The search for Salina's next city manager is advancing after the City Commission met in a special session to review a competitive pool of 37 applicants. The commission entered into a 90-minute executive session with their consultant, Chris Lowe of Government Professional Solutions, to discuss the confidential qualifications of the candidates. Lowe noted he was "very pleased with the quality of the candidates". Following the private discussion, the commission scheduled another special meeting for July 30th to further narrow the field after the consultant conducts initial Zoom interviews with a semi-finalist group of 10 to 12 individuals.
The public will also have an opportunity to meet the city manager finalists. Lowe outlined a multi-faceted finalist process that includes community tours and a "cookies and coffee" style meet-and-greet for the public. The process is designed to give the commission, department heads, and the community several opportunities to interact with the candidates. Finalists will also be asked to complete a practical exercise, presenting a memo on a hypothetical community issue to a "mock city commission" composed of city department heads. The goal, Lowe stated, is to get to know the candidates beyond a typical one-hour interview.
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