Commission adopts formal public-safety fund rules, declines proposed 60/40 revenue split

The Bourbon County Commission adopted a formal resolution Oct. 14 creating a legal public-safety/inmate-revenue fund and spelling out how inmate-housing revenues must be handled under Kansas budget and cash-basis laws. The clerk’s more detailed, statute-referenced resolution was adopted after commissioners discussed — and declined — a proposal to split inmate-housing revenue 60% to the sheriff and 40% to the county general fund.

County counsel and the clerk explained that establishing a formal fund clarifies legal responsibilities: revenues held in the fund remain subject to cash-basis budget law and cannot be spent outside approved budget lines without commission action. Commissioners debated whether a portion of future inmate-housing revenue should automatically flow to an equipment or modernization reserve; the clerk’s resolution instead created a formal fund with reporting and budgetary controls. Commissioner David Birbauer said the commission could revisit the arrangement if the revenue stream proved sustainable.

The resolution adopted instructs staff to create the public-safety fund in county accounting, to record incoming inmate-housing receipts there, and to follow statutory budget amendment procedures if funds are to be used in ways that exceed authorized budgets. The motion to adopt the resolution as drafted by county counsel and the clerk carried with a majority vote.