County budget requests continue to roll in

Bourbon County Commissioners continue to gather numbers for the 2017 budget.

On Tuesday, July 19, commissioners received budget requests from the sheriff's office, Southeast Kansas Regional Correctional Center, Southeast Kansas Area Agency for Aging, and the Bourbon County Fair Board.

Sheriff, jail budget

Sheriff Bill Martin submitted a $678,338 budget request for 2017. There was some discussion, but Martin said he and SEKRCC Major Bobby Reed would go into more detail with their requests at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The budget request for the SEKRCC is $976,605.26.

Martin said he is asking for an increase in the undersheriff's wages, who is being paid less than the SEKRCC major. The increase would bring the undersheriff's wages from $35,236 annually to $38,328.

"Those two people have the same or equal responsibility as one another and I don't think it's fair that the major gets paid more than the undersheriff," Martin said.

He said he takes "full responsibility" for the oversight in the undersheriff's wages.

Most elected officials and department heads are not asking for raises this year.

Martin's stance on raises has differed from a year ago when he presented commissioners three options for his budget -- a 10 percent, 15 percent or 25 percent increase for his employees and a 5 percent increase for himself.

In the end, commissioners agreed a 6-percent increase in employee benefits cost would be the only raise all county employees would receive.

On Nov. 17, 2015, commissioners met with nearly every staff member from the sheriff's office and jail who said they are underpaid and overworked.

In 2015, Martin also asked for three additional deputies. Commissioners approved one additional deputy, whose salary will in part be paid with a Community Oriented Policing Services Grant.

The county was awarded a $125,000 COPS grant, which would pay 75 percent of the salary the first three years. The county would be responsible for 100 percent of the salary in the fourth year and in the fifth year, would have the option of eliminating the position.

However, due to the county's budget constraints, the formula was adjusted so the grant is paying 100 percent of the salary in the first year.

"The second year that's coming around, you're going to have to think about what percentage the county is going to be responsible for," Martin said.

He said he would contact the grant administrator to learn the county's options.

Martin said he also has included a 5 percent increase in overtime because of a policy change that now requires all deputies involved in court cases be subpoenaed to appear in court.