Commission Adopts 2020 Budget

(Sedgwick County, Kan.) – During their regular meeting this morning, Commissioners voted to adopt a $ 457,422,200 budget for 2020. It is comprised of $ 437,312,854 for Sedgwick County, $20,109,346 for Sedgwick County Fire District 1, and a $22,798,238 Capital Improvement Plan.

Commissioners emphasized three themes throughout budget development including good partnerships with business, other local governments, and all stakeholders; emphasis on employees related to compensation and benefits, training and development, and overall work environment; and an increased emphasis on behavioral health services and resources.

“I am pleased that our staff was able to create a budget that fell in line with commissioner values, supported the needs of our community, and kept the financial impact on citizens to a minimum,” said Commission Chairman David Dennis.

The 2020 Adopted Budget highlights include additional staff, resources, or new programs:

• Funding to the Department on Aging for Meals on Wheels, wheelchair posture seating, and other services;
• Six additional full-time positions for COMCARE’s Community Crisis Center;
• Funding for a new basic nutrition program for seniors living in rural communities;
• Three additional staff positions for Emergency Communications;
• Funding for the Integrated Care Team -1 or ICT-1 pilot program;
• A flat pay adjustment or all employees and additional pay adjustments for positions with high turnover and pay issues;
• A Technology Review Board to encourage the organization to be more fiscally responsible and cohesive when making technology purchases; and.
• Commissioner Michael O’Donnell, II reallocated his pay raise ($2,158) to storm drainage funding for a long-term funding solution;

“It was important to me, to show our residents how critical a long-term funding solution for storm drainage is,” said District 2 Commissioner Michael O’Donnell, II. “The damage from this year’s rainfall has created an unnecessary burden on residents that we need to remedy. And so I decided to put my money where my mouth is.”

This budget is evidence of an improving economy with assessed valuation growth in Sedgwick County of 4.61 percent and 5.32 percent in Fire District 1. Property tax rates are estimated to be 29.359 mills for Sedgwick County. The Fire District 1 mill levy was reduced from 18.131 mills to 17.889 mills based on estimated assessed valuation, subject to review and technical adjustments. The Budget was developed to ensure that resources were concentrated on those areas with the greatest needs for additional resources.

County Manager Tom Stolz shared the Recommended Budget on July 17 and members of the public were invited to two public hearings (July 24 and August 5) or leave a comment in an online forum on the County’s website (www.sedgwickcounty.org).

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