County’s 2019 Budget Adopted: Enhances Public Safety and Human Services

Today, Commissioners adopted the 2019 Sedgwick County Budget and the 2019 Fire District 1 Budget. The operating budget for Sedgwick County totals $419,042,893 and will be supported with a property tax levy of $142,756,344. This will require an estimated mill levy of 29.359 mills. Sedgwick County Fire District 1 operating budget totals $20,487,728; it will be supported with a property tax levy of $16,994,713. This will require an estimated mill levy of 18.131 mills. The exact mill levy rate for both entities will be set by the County Clerk in November. The 2019 overall budget totals $439,530,621. 

“The adopted budget includes funding for necessary public safety and human services,” said Commission Chairman David Dennis. “It will maintain our organization’s financial future while supporting services our citizens deserve and depend on.” 

Highlights from the adopted budget include:

• Addressing public safety service needs, including the addition of six additional call takers to 911 and the addition of an EMS crew to Fire Station 39;
• Improving community health by adding a public health educator position, adding five positions for suburban school district mental health support, and providing continued support for service provider capacity through the Community Developmental Disability Organization;
• Addressing systemic issues in our behavioral health and public safety areas through the addition of two Community Collaborator positions to work with regional partners; and
• Technology equipment and software upgrades including radio replacements and a records management system. 

The 2019 Capital Improvement Plan totals $25,872,231 which funds a number of projects such as renovations in the main courthouse to accommodate the District Attorney and renovation and expansion of the Adult Detention Facility for the Sheriff.  The CIP will fund outdoor warning device installation and/or replacement as well as repair and maintenance to the M.S. “Mitch” Mitchell floodway. 

The road and bridge CIP fund allocation includes 100 lane miles of preventative maintenance, 10 bridge repairs or replacements, and includes targeted bonding of $4 million for bridge repairs or replacements.