Allen County Commissioners were told Tuesday they will need to reduce 2027 budget requests by around $1.6 million in order to keep the mill levy the same as for 2026 as county auditor Rodney Burns presented a preliminary budget summary to the Commission.
However, of more immediate concern for the county is a need to address a $213,000 deficit in the ambulance fund, which Commissioners have had to augment in the past. They agreed to move funds from a courthouse capital improvement fund which has funds set aside for a possible courthouse roof replacement and from PILOT funds it receives from wind farms in the county.
The Commission discussed various options and factors in the budget, requests for which factored in a five percent salary increase pool. Another factor could be fuel prices which sharply increased earlier this year but have since backed down.
Commissioners will talk about the budget at next week’s meeting and will have an evening meeting July 7th at 5 PM at which time they anticipate having a 2027 budget ironed out.
Commissioners Tuesday approved the purchase of a water truck for the Allen County Landfill. The 2018 Kenworth truck being purchased for $96,250 is used to haul leachate out of detention ponds at the landfill. As reported previously, this will replace a truck described charitably as about to fall apart. Funding for the purchase comes from landfill fees and not property taxes.
Public Works Director Mitch Gardner said he has also hired a seasonal employee for the landfill to pick up trash around the facility. In His report Road and Bridge Supervisor Jeremy Hopkins said he has acquired two pickups from the Sheriff’s Office and is looking to replace two more units. Hopkins reported rains have slowed chip seal work, however they are planning to do the chip seal of the parking lots at the Humboldt Sports Complex next week.
He also told Commissioners he may look at a 2027 contract to do right of way spraying for the Kansas Department of Transportation, but due to other work the Noxious Weed Department is involved with now it would not be practical for the county to handle that this year.
