Hospital administrator outlines 2027 budget request, cites $300,000 fire-alarm need; trustee Arden announces resignation

Stacy Augustine, the hospital administrator, presented the facilitys request for Coffey Countys 2027 budget cycle and reported recent one-time federal funds and capital priorities.

"We were named one of the 100 critical access hospitals to know in 2026," Augustine told the commission, thanking county support and the community. She said the hospital based its 2027 request on the 2026 budget with adjustments for anticipated salary and benefit increases (2.5% for salaries and 7% for benefits).

Augustine said the hospital received a one-time Employee Retention Credit payment and placed it in a separate reserves account (she referenced roughly $1.5 million in checking and more than $2 million in savings). The administrator said most of those funds would be held in reserve for emergencies but some would be spent on capital needs requiring attention.

A highlighted capital request was replacement of the hospitals aging Simplex fire alarm system. Augustine said the board needs to replace the fire-board and wiring because parts are no longer available and estimated the work at $300,000, though she said the hospital will solicit bids and return with firm numbers.

Augustine also noted a $270,000 capital outlay for an ambulance ordered previously that is expected to be delivered in 2027, and said staffing—especially paramedics—remains a recruitment challenge.

In a separate portion of the meeting, hospital trustee Arden addressed the commission to announce his resignation. Arden criticized hospital leadership and described repeated attempts to get responses to operational concerns.

"I've had a lot of disappointment ... I've had enough," Arden said, reading a resignation and citing low morale among staff, unresponsiveness from leadership, and a lack of constructive dialogue at board meetings.

Commissioners thanked Arden for his service and discussed vacancies on local boards. No formal county action on the hospital budget or Ardens resignation was taken at the meeting; Augustine said the hospital will follow up with bid figures for large capital items and return to the commission as needed.

Provenance: hospital budget presentation by Stacy Augustine runs through the meeting transcript from the Moss Public Administrator introduction and the block where Arden spoke and read his resignation (see timeline entries).