By: NICOLAS FIERRO
Salina Post
Saline County Commissioners and the Administrator discussed the 2027 budget expectations and process during Tuesday's public meeting.
The discussion was meant to set high-level priorities, before the process starts to develop the 2027 budget.
County Administrator, Matt Stiles said with the addition of the Social Services Funding Advisory Committee, this would take the burden off of the Commissioner’s when it comes to approving budgetary actions.
April 21 was the day the Commissioners appointed seven members of that committee, without an announcement of those members.
These committee members will review proposals from outside agencies and provide recommendations on how the County will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to benefit nonprofit agencies in the community.
The committee will evaluate proposals from nonprofit agencies based on the following:
- Agency mission and how it helps control costs for County departments.
- How County funding is used to leverage outside funding.
- Other public support from value of tax-exempt property and/or City funding.
- Other fundraising efforts.
Commissioner's thoughts about the 2027 budget:
Annie Grevas
Grevas wanted to make sure they are funding the county departments and meeting the needs for them to accomplish their tasks, so they are able to provide the quality services for the public.
Joe Hay
Hay brought up how last year, they set limitations on what they expected out of department heads to keep budget balanced as much as possible. He added he would like to stay at same level as last year.
He agreed with Grevas' comments, and wants to keep mill levy as low as possible.
Hay additionally said for next year’s budget, he does not want to see the county have to worry about giving money to outside agencies, before taking care of those within the county.
“I still think there is alot of double-dipping with the outside agencies, because they are getting money from the City and County, which is still coming from the same taxpayer. I think we need to look at that really closely. We need to take care of our people, departments and if we can’t give alot of money to those outside agencies, at least we are taking care of what we need to take care of internally first.”
The final tax rate supporting Saline County's 2025 budget was 40.112 mills or about $40.11 in tax levied on every $1,000 in taxable valuation
The current 2026 Saline County mill levy is 40.167, reduced from the originally recommended 41.571.
James Weese
Weese wants to look at different departments in their worth and value to the county, if the county should continue to fund them.
"I like quality over quantity when it comes to number of employees,” said Weese.
Rodger Sparks
Sparks commended the department heads in looking at different ways to minimize the cost, and find new ways of how to steward dollars in projects.
He looks forward to the Road and Bridge department of bringing new ideas and concepts in the future.
Looking ahead
The main discussion points amongst the Commissioners was financially supporting employees within the county, while maintaining a balanced mill levy rate.
“It is always about balance," said Stiles. "Trying to find the correct balance with the services we provide, providing the right services at the right level, versus what we can reasonably expect people to pay. There is a value proposition with that in trying to find where that value is. Sometimes it does go up and it does not, but we never try to never to make it go up, because we are taxpayers too."
This week, the budgeting system will start internally within county departments.
A study session with presentations from the departments to the Commissioners is scheduled for June 23, 2026.
Saline County is expected to provide dates on when the public can be involved in those discussions as well.