Lyon County Commissioners received a hefty number of budget requests from local agencies during their weekly action session Thursday morning.
A total of eight requests came before commissioners, the majority of which remained flat from fiscal year 2020 including Lyon County Attorney Marc Goodman’s request. Goodman says the attorney’s office does not require any additional funding thanks to the county’s diversion fund which the office is statutorily able to access for “general fund item” expenditures.
One of the few increases in requests came from the Emporia Senior Center which submitted two separate requests. The first request was for a total 2021 budget allocation of just over $57,000, a roughly $20,000 increase from 2020.
The Senior Center is also requesting an allocation of $8,000 to its emergency fund to help cover losses that have been sustained due to the COVID-19 pandemic according to Senior Center Board Member Nadine Buell.Lyon County Treasurer Sharon Gaede who submitted a request of $298,471. The request includes a 15 percent increase in salary line items and an overall budget increase of 8.7 percent.
Another increase came from Lyon County Treasurer Sharon Gaede who submitted a request of $298,471 which includes a 15 percent increase in salary line items and an overall budget increase of 8.7 percent. The 15 percent increase according to Gaede is for the hiring of a new floater position which will be shared between the Treasurer and Register of Deeds offices.
Hetlinger Developmental Services requested a flat sum of $36,500. Director Trudy Hutchison says the organization serves roughly 50 clients per day and the county’s allocation mainly covers the costs of the organization’s Community Developmental Disability Organization.
Additional requests were presented from Americus Township, North Lyon County and Elmendaro Township libraries. Combined with the Emporia Public Library’s previous request from last week the total allocation being sought by county libraries is $256,283.
According to Nikki Plankinton of North Lyon County, the county allocations are often coupled with additional local funding.
The Lyon County Commission has taken both requests under advisory and will render a decision on the emergency fund request by Jul. 2 at the earliest.
Finally, the North Central Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging presented a total budget request of $230,382 with an increase of just over $12,000 from 2020. Director Julie Govert Walter says the increase is for wages related to the agency’s Friendship Meal program.
Govert-Walter says all funds allocated from the county to the Area Agency truly impact the community in a way not seen elsewhere.
The Lyon County Commission will reconvene for their weekly action session next Thursday at 9 am inside the Lyon County Courthouse.