Representatives from local service organizations voiced concerns at Tuesday's Saline County Commission meeting regarding proposed budget cuts to outside agencies, resulting in commissioners tabling the decision for further study.
County Administrator Philip Smith-Hanes presented recommended adjustments to reduce the proposed property tax levy for 2026 to 40.112 mills, maintaining the current rate. The proposal required cutting $1,663,817 from the budget and included eliminating funding for some outside agencies, including Salina Grace, and reducing OCCK's funding by 50%.
"It is the unfortunate reality that this amount of money also relies on reductions to a lot of the outside agencies that we have traditionally funded," Smith-Hanes said.
Several representatives addressed the commission to request reconsideration of the cuts. Linda Salem, representing First Presbyterian Church, spoke about the importance of county funding for Salina Grace Resource Center, which serves 40 to 80 people daily with meals, showers, clean clothes, computer access, and case management.
"When a budget item is taken to zero, it is more than the tightening of the belt. It is a loud value statement defining who we find worthy of investing in and who we do not," Salem said.
Chad Young, executive director of Salina Grace, told commissioners that the $15,000 request represents about 2.6% of their $560,000 annual budget and helps leverage additional grant funding.
"This support from the county is helpful for us when we go to write grants to other foundations and to HUD for funding to show that we have support of these local community organizations such as the county and the city," Young said.
Sheila Nelson-Stout from OCCK expressed concern about the proposed 50% reduction to their funding, which she said was unexpected after earlier communications had suggested a 5% cut. She explained that 70% of their budget goes to staff who provide direct services.
"I was not prepared for a 50% reduction," Nelson-Stout said. "I can tell you that $100,000 is a lot of money."
Commissioner Weese emphasized that outside agencies weren't the first target for cuts, noting that county departments had already made multiple rounds of reductions.
"This is step four," Weese said. "We asked our departments to make a 2% reduction across the board. And then we went into another cutting session and another, and this was the last."
Commissioner Monte Shadwick noted he wasn't comfortable making a decision without having the entire budget in front of him to consider where alternative cuts might come from.
"If we take into account these things, we're going to have to find the savings somewhere else," Shadwick said.
Commissioner Grevas suggested a dedicated study session to examine the budget more thoroughly before making a decision.
Smith-Hanes indicated he needs final budget direction by August 19 to meet publication deadlines for the September 9 public hearing. The commission unanimously voted to table the budget reduction proposal and schedule a study session to further examine options.
The proposed budget maintains the current tax rate of 40.112 mills rather than increasing to the initially proposed 40.7 mills. Smith-Hanes calculated that the difference between these rates on a $200,000 home would be $13.52 per year.
