Riley County commissioners cap pay, approve contracts and hear stark reserve projections
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Riley County commissioners on June 22 approved several routine contracts and personnel actions while confronting a longer‑term budget shortfall that staff warned could leave the general fund deeply underfunded if the county adopts a revenue‑neutral tax rate.
Britney Phillips, the county’s budget and finance officer, told the board that if the county “stayed flat” it would end the year with about $3.8 million in general‑fund reserves; adopting a revenue‑neutral rate instead would put those reserves at about negative $5.5 million, she said. Phillips urged the commission to consider multi‑year adjustments and to review contracts, appropriations and capital projects to preserve liquidity.
Against that fiscal backdrop the board approved an agreement with Power Grid Partners to remove an obsolete wind turbine and its foundations. The motion to approve the wind‑tower removal was moved and seconded and the chair asked the commissioners to sign the agreement; the board’s public record indicates the motion passed and signatures were requested. The agenda later recorded approval of several Riley County employee action forms showing separations in the health department and approval of the June 18 minutes.
Human resources director Elizabeth Ward asked the board to approve an employee assistance program contract covering non‑benefit‑eligible workers (including volunteer firefighters and election workers). Ward said the program is priced at about $1 per month per employee and that utilization has been low in the last calendar year (five sessions used); the board voted to approve the contract with Pony Mental Health Services.
Commissioner compensation was the most contested budget item. Staff presented a comparison of commissioner pay with peer counties and historical local pay levels. After debate the board moved, seconded and passed a motion to set commissioners’ pay for the 2027 budget at the 2024 salary level (no across‑the‑board increase for the position); the motion was recorded with one commissioner opposed. The board gave staff direction to reflect that decision in the 2027 budget documents.
The commission also recessed into executive session under the personnel exception to the Kansas Open Meetings Act; when the board returned it recorded that action would be taken consistent with the consensus reached in executive session. The public record did not specify personnel details.
What’s next: staff will fold the pay cap and other guidance into the draft 2027 budget and return with contract and CIP detail at upcoming sessions for commissioners to prioritize against the county’s constrained reserves.
Britney Phillips, the county’s budget and finance officer, told the board that if the county “stayed flat” it would end the year with about $3.8 million in general‑fund reserves; adopting a revenue‑neutral rate instead would put those reserves at about negative $5.5 million, she said. Phillips urged the commission to consider multi‑year adjustments and to review contracts, appropriations and capital projects to preserve liquidity.
Against that fiscal backdrop the board approved an agreement with Power Grid Partners to remove an obsolete wind turbine and its foundations. The motion to approve the wind‑tower removal was moved and seconded and the chair asked the commissioners to sign the agreement; the board’s public record indicates the motion passed and signatures were requested. The agenda later recorded approval of several Riley County employee action forms showing separations in the health department and approval of the June 18 minutes.
Human resources director Elizabeth Ward asked the board to approve an employee assistance program contract covering non‑benefit‑eligible workers (including volunteer firefighters and election workers). Ward said the program is priced at about $1 per month per employee and that utilization has been low in the last calendar year (five sessions used); the board voted to approve the contract with Pony Mental Health Services.
Commissioner compensation was the most contested budget item. Staff presented a comparison of commissioner pay with peer counties and historical local pay levels. After debate the board moved, seconded and passed a motion to set commissioners’ pay for the 2027 budget at the 2024 salary level (no across‑the‑board increase for the position); the motion was recorded with one commissioner opposed. The board gave staff direction to reflect that decision in the 2027 budget documents.
The commission also recessed into executive session under the personnel exception to the Kansas Open Meetings Act; when the board returned it recorded that action would be taken consistent with the consensus reached in executive session. The public record did not specify personnel details.
What’s next: staff will fold the pay cap and other guidance into the draft 2027 budget and return with contract and CIP detail at upcoming sessions for commissioners to prioritize against the county’s constrained reserves.
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