Sedgwick County commissioners have voted to adopt a budget of $437.3 million for county operations in 2020, along with a fire district budget of $20.1 million.
Commissioner Lacey Cruse won approval for a motion to transfer $125,000 from a contingency fund to help programs for senior citizens. Close to $85,000 will go to aging and disability meals-on-wheels programs, and just over $40,000 will go to the aging department for highest priority needs as determined by staff and the county’s aging advisory board.
Commissioner Michael O’Donnell got approval for his motion to take his scheduled pay raise of just over $2,100 and transfer it to public works for use in stormwater management efforts. He wants the money to help with a long-term solution to the recent flooding issues experienced by residents in the Hancock Acres and Peach Valley Estates additions near Haysville and Derby. A meeting is planned Thursday evening at 6 in the gymnasium at Haysville Middle School to talk about the ongoing problems with flooding and some possible solutions.
Chairman David Dennis and other commissioners thanked county staff for their work in putting the budget together.
The budget includes funding for six new full-time positions for COMCARE’s Community Crisis Center, funding for the pilot program with Wichita for an Integrated Care Team to deal with mental health and substance abuse cases, and three additional staff positions for the 911 system.
