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Budget Process

Sedgwick County Mission

Cultivate a healthy, safe and welcoming community through exceptional public services, effective partnerships and dedicated employees.

The Process | Resources | Community Engagement | Budget Meetings

The Process

Step 1: Develop Framework

Budget staff compare historical revenues with projections. The financial forecast is revised based on actual data. 

Step 2: Budget Development

Budget staff engage with departments and divisions to evaluate business needs assessments, requests for additional funding, and budget submissions. Departments and divisions work through a series of budget presentations, and proposed adjustments are made as appropriate. Workshops are conducted regarding topics that require additional discussion.

Step 3: Budget Recommendation

The County Manager utilizes information gathered during budget presentations, as well as feedback from the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), and presents a formal recommended budget to the BOCC.

Step 4: Public Hearings and Budget Adoption

Members of the public are invited to comment and provide input on the recommended budget at special BOCC meetings. Legal notice is published, and leadership staff engages with the BOCC and the public for final recommendations and budget adoption. This provides framework for the following year’s approved expenditures.

Step 5: Implementation

After the budget is adopted, staff begin the implementation process. The process will repeat itself at the end of the budget year.

Resources

Community Engagement

Board of County Commissioners Budget Retreat

Online Budget Simulator

Simulator Results: Presentation at June 6, 2025 Staff Meeting | PowerPoint

The Budget Simulator gives participants a simplified overview of how funds are distributed across Sedgwick County’s General Fund, Debt Service Fund, and Special Revenue Funds. The simulator was open May 5-23, 2025.

Board of County Commissioners Budget Hearings

  • May 7, 2025 - Financial Forecast, Sheriff's Office, District Attorney, District Court, Division of Information Technology, County Counselor, MAPD
  • May 8, 2025 - Election Commissioner, County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Division of Public Works, Division of Human Resources, Division of Finance/Community Development
  • May 9, 2025 - Division of Public Services, Division of Administrative Services, County Appraiser
  • May 12, 2025 - Culture & Recreations, Technology Review Board, County Manager/Communications, County Treasurer
  • May 14 & May 15, 2025 - Division of Public Safety
  • May 15, 2025 - Capital Improvement Projects

Online Public Comments - Now Available

Community members are welcome to leave comments on our Online Public Forum from July 9 to Aug. 19, 2025.

Budget Meetings

  • July 9, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
  • July 30, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
    • First Public Hearing regarding the 2026 Budget
  • August 20, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. - Regular Meeting
    • Second Public Hearing regarding the 2026 Budget
    • Adoption of the 2026 Budget