Saline County Commission Summary
Week of July 8, 2026
Proposed 2027 county budget could exceed revenue neutral rate
Five rural fire districts plan to exceed revenue neutral rates
2027 budget prioritizes salary study and employee pay increases
Outside agency funding faces scrutiny in proposed budget
Budget allocates $3 million for capital projects, freezes Saline County Livestock and Expo Center plans
Commission considers phasing out county home health services
Road and Bridge Department secures $110,000 clean air grant
Health department to manage $150,000 regional disaster preparedness grant
Emergency management details ongoing federal disaster recovery
Proposed 2027 county budget could exceed revenue neutral rate
SALINE COUNTY, Kan. — Saline County Administrator Matt Stiles presented a proposed 2027 budget that sets a mill levy of 42.142, a 2 percent increase over the current year. If approved, the levy would exceed the county's revenue-neutral rate of 38.724 mills, increasing annual taxes for a median $200,000 home by $13.13. The five-member county commission — composed of Monte Shadwick, Annie Grevas, Rodger Sparks, James Weese and Joe Hay Jr. — unanimously approved a resolution to publish the intent to exceed the revenue-neutral rate, which maintains the commission's flexibility to lower the rate before final adoption. A combined revenue-neutral and budget hearing is scheduled for Sept. 1.
Five rural fire districts plan to exceed revenue neutral rates
SALINE COUNTY, Kan. — The county commission authorized publication notices for five of the county's seven rural fire districts to exceed their revenue-neutral tax rates for the upcoming year. While the increases may simply reflect valuation drops rather than higher tax collections, the commission requested that fire district representatives formally present their budgets at an upcoming meeting. The commission wants to ensure complete transparency so taxpayers understand exactly why the rates are exceeding neutral levels ahead of the Sept. 1 public hearings.
2027 budget prioritizes salary study and employee pay increases
SALINE COUNTY, Kan. — To combat turnover and inflation, the proposed 2027 Saline County budget allocates funds for significant employee compensation adjustments. The proposal includes a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment, eligible step increases, a $1,000 health savings account contribution for high-deductible plan users and $50,000 for a comprehensive salary study requested by the employee work group. Matt Stiles highlighted that while the municipal cost index is currently up 5.5 percent, retaining a strong workforce requires consistent investment, particularly ahead of a projected 10 percent increase in health insurance premiums.
Outside agency funding faces scrutiny in proposed budget
SALINE COUNTY, Kan. — County officials plan to tighten oversight on funding provided to outside agencies in the upcoming year. The proposed budget denies $10,000 funding requests from both the Salina Area United Way and another outside agency, while a $47,954 request from the North Central Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging remains pending a review of its internal funding formula. The commission expressed a desire to implement stricter reporting requirements and performance metrics for all external agencies receiving taxpayer funds to ensure community investments are effective.
Budget allocates $3 million for capital projects, freezes Saline County Livestock and Expo Center plans
SALINE COUNTY, Kan. — The 2027 budget sets aside $3 million for capital improvement projects, notably including the planned cash purchase of the Salina Family Healthcare Center building to permanently house the Saline County Health Department. However, the budget proposal pauses a previously planned $2.9 million investment in the Saline County Livestock and Expo Center through 2030. The county is instead exploring public-private partnerships, including preliminary discussions with JRI Hospitality to potentially manage or update the current facility.
Commission considers phasing out county home health services
SALINE COUNTY, Kan. — The Saline County Commission is weighing the permanent elimination of its home health services, a program the county has provided for more than 60 years. Matt Stiles noted the service currently requires a $413,530 annual subsidy to cover the gap between expenses and service reimbursements. With persistent nursing vacancies and what Stiles described as up to 12 private agencies already serving Saline County, officials discussed reducing or winding down the program within 120 days to relieve the 2027 budget. The commission will review formal options before finalizing the budget.
Road and Bridge Department secures $110,000 clean air grant
SALINE COUNTY, Kan. — The Saline County Road and Bridge Department secured a $110,000 Clean Air Diesel grant from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Road and Bridge Administrator Darren Fishel announced the reimbursement grant will significantly offset the $154,000 cost of a newly approved dump truck, which replaces older, heavily polluting equipment. Fishel also reported his department has completed 181 of 250 debris-removal tasks across the county's rights-of-way following the severe summer windstorms.
Health department to manage $150,000 regional disaster preparedness grant
SALINE COUNTY, Kan. — The Saline County Health Department will take over as the fiscal agent for the North Central Health Care Coalition for Preparedness, managing a $150,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Health Department Director Jason Tiller said the county will oversee purchases and bill payments for the multi-county region, earning a minimum 6 percent administrative fee. The move replaces a previous fiscal agent whose contract was lost with KDHE in April, prompting the state to seek new partner agencies, and is not expected to require any additional county staff.
Emergency management details ongoing federal disaster recovery
SALINE COUNTY, Kan. — Saline County is currently navigating two major storm recovery efforts, including an April hailstorm that recently received a federal disaster declaration. Emergency Management Director Michelle Weis reported the county is conducting preliminary damage assessments for the hail event, which caused $7.3 million in statewide damages. Simultaneously, the county is finalizing cleanup from a June 8 windstorm, which required opening multiple shelters, serving community meals and coordinating volunteer chainsaw crews to handle more than 650 targeted work orders for downed trees.
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