County manager presents budget to commissioners that eliminates 113 jobs, closes Judge Riddel Boys Ranch

WICHITA ? Sedgwick County would close the Judge Riddel Boys Ranch in mid-January under a plan recommended by County Manager William Buchanan today.

Closing the ranch, cutting 113 jobs, having fewer commission meetings and giving less money to the zoo, senior centers and extension center are key elements of a $408 million budget that Buchanan is calling a series of tough decisions.

?It?s a painful budget,? Buchanan said in an interview. ?The financial reality is that we?re going to have to do this.?

Based on recidivism rates and a study by Wichita State University, estimates are that boys now at the ranch would commit 39 crimes a year. Housing them in jail would cost about $75,000 a year. That compares to about $1.5 million that the county now is spending each year to operate the ranch. Buchanan said in an interview that he understands the savings doesn?t take into consideration the victims of those 39 crimes a year. He said there are 31 programs across the state that provide the same service as the boys ranch.

The boys ranch, while a good program, is the state?s responsibility, Buchanan said. The state provides $126 per day per boy to the county, but the cost to operate the ranch is $204 per day per boy.

Buchanan said the ranch would not close until mid-January to allow boys to finish the fall semester of school.

The county is considering a juvenile day reporting program that would aim to reach youth on the front end, before they offend.

The decision about whether to close the ranch ultimately lies with county commissioners, who will vote on next year?s budget on Aug. 15.

Commissioner Jim Skelton said there is support on the board to keep the ranch open.

?We are going to talk about it,? he said. ?There are alternatives.?

Buchanan shared his recommended budget for next year with commissioners this morning. His spending plan cuts $8 million from the budget and counts on about $1.3 million in new revenue, largely from a first-time fee to accept tax payments by credit card. Together, the cuts and new revenue would eliminate a $9.3 million deficit by the end of next year.

Of the 113 positions slated for elimination, 79 are filled. That means 79 county employees could be laid off ? unless they are qualified for jobs that become open due to attrition.

Departments that have no budget cuts include the county counselor?s, the clerk?s, the register of deeds, the election commissioner?s, the treasurer?s, district attorney?s office, emergency communications, Fire District No. 1, code enforcement and the courts. Buchanan said the county clerk, register of deeds, treasurer and district attorney?s office ? all led by elected officials, not staff ? offered no suggestions for decreasing their budgets. Buchanan said he declined to recommend the other departments? cuts because they would have impaired services.

He said he asked department heads to think about what they would keep if they had 80 percent of last year?s budget. Then he asked them to make a list of what they would keep if they could spend 90 percent. Then he asked them to consider what they would keep if they had the last 10 percent of last year?s budget.

Buchanan said he approached the task of getting to a zero deficit by focusing on the county?s core services. Buchanan?s budget would cut funding to the zoo by almost $256,000 and funding to the extension center by almost $177,000.

Funding to senior centers would decrease by 10 percent, or $66,300.

The county also would eliminate its body shop and stockroom in the fleet management department and its stormwater management advisory board.

Source: http://www.kansas.com/2012/07/18/2412199/county-manager-presents-budget.html

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