Finney Co. Sheriff’s Department and others increase budget requests

Garden City, KS(westernkansasnews.com) The Finney County Commissioners continued hearing budget requests for 2019 on Monday. Several agencies including the Finney County Sheriff’s Department have asked for bigger budgets.

The sheriff’s department is over $637,000 more than in 2018, totaling $8,886,951. Just under $222,000 of the money would go towards a four percent pay increase and just over $97,000 would fund hiring a new patrol deputy and jail deputy.

The Finney County Attorney’s Officer also asked for a budget increase of just under $370,000 at $2,513,352. The increase includes a two percent increase to attorney’s salaries and a request to hire a new attorney because of increase in time per case.

The Health Department requested just over a $40,000 increase that includes a four percent salary increase for all employees. The raise would cost $46,402 and the total budget request is for $1,981,766.

Emergency Medical Services is seeking a four percent increase at just under $280,000. The total expansion increase is for $2,242,478.83. Finney County Emergency Management asked for an increase of just under $41,000 for a total of $188,037. $35,000 would go towards the purchase of a new vehicle.

The commission will set the maximum budget amount on July 23 and the final budget must be submitted to county clerk by August 25.