Shawnee County meeting takeaways
Week of August 9 2025
County Considers 48 Million in Bonds for West Ridge Mall Revitalization
Commission Debates Deep Cuts to Bridge 2026 Budget Gap
Commission Slashes Mental Health Funding in Split Vote
Sheriff’s Office Offers Over 1 Million in Budget Reductions
Health Department Faces Volatile Grant Funding, Budget Adjustments
County Considers 48 Million in Bonds for West Ridge Mall Revitalization
SHAWNEE COUNTY - The Shawnee County Commission took the first step toward issuing 48 million in taxable industrial revenue bonds for the first phase of the West Ridge Mall renovation project. During a public hearing, bond counsel Robert T. Perry (Gilmore & Bell) clarified that the bonds are a financing mechanism for the developer, Dream Big Partners, LLC, and do not represent any financial obligation or tax liability for the county or its citizens. The project’s initial phase involves renovating a portion of the mall for use by Advisors Excel and consolidating retail to the first floor. The commission only expressed its intent to issue the bonds; a full cost-benefit analysis will be reviewed before final approval is considered.
Commission Debates Deep Cuts to Bridge 2026 Budget Gap
SHAWNEE COUNTY - Shawnee County Commissioners engaged in extensive and difficult discussions to reduce the 2026 budget, aiming to meet the state’s revenue-neutral rate requirements. Department heads and community partners presented their cases, with many voluntarily offering significant reductions. The Sheriff’s Office proposed cutting its request by over $1 million, citing savings from grants and increased staffing efficiencies. The Department of Corrections also offered to delay staffing for the new behavioral health unit, saving nearly $1.4 million. By the end of the session, the commission still needed to find an additional $192,517 in cuts to reach its target.
Commission Slashes Mental Health Funding in Split Vote
SHAWNEE COUNTY - In a contentious 2−1 vote, the commission reduced a proposed funding increase for Valeo Behavioral Health Care, the county’s mental-health provider, by 400,000. Valeo representatives had requested an 820,000 increase, citing the loss of over 1.3 million in federal funding and the critical need for services for uninsured residents. Commissioners expressed strong support for mental health but argued the county could not subsidize losses from state and federal governments, especially in a tight budget year. The decision was made to close a nearly $1 million budget hole, though it was acknowledged as a difficult choice impacting vulnerable residents.
Sheriff’s Office Offers Over 1 Million in Budget Reductions
SHAWNEE COUNTY - The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office voluntarily proposed a significant reduction to its 2026 budget request, trimming over $1 million. Sheriff Brian Hill explained the cuts were possible due to increased staffing levels that will reduce the need for overtime pay and savings realized through special funding programs and grants. This substantial cut was one of the largest single adjustments made during the commission’s lengthy budget work session and was praised as a key step toward balancing the county’s overall budget.
At the same meeting, the Department of Corrections will delay the full staffing and funding of the new behavioral health unit at the jail, resulting in a savings of nearly $1.4 million for 2026. Corrections Director Brian Cole explained that by holding off on funding the positions until after the first quarter, the department could achieve a significant reduction without jeopardizing the project entirely. Cole stated that while the department could make the adjustment, any further cuts would require delaying the facility’s opening, which he hoped to avoid to maintain commitments made to the state for the $10 million project.
Health Department Faces Volatile Grant Funding, Budget Adjustments
SHAWNEE COUNTY - The Shawnee County Health Department’s budget highlighted the growing uncertainty of state and federal funding for local programs. Director Teresa Fisher reported that several key grants are pending but are expected to be awarded at reduced levels, impacting services funded by that money. In response, the commission voted to reduce the department’s budget by $62,300, representing half of the anticipated grant funding for the first six months of the year. Commissioners noted that if the grant money does not materialize as expected, they would have to consider using the county’s contingency fund to prevent a disruption of services.
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